Austen Childs Falls in NCAA Singles Championship
May 21, 2008 | Men's Tennis
May 21, 2008
TULSA, Okla. - University of Louisville freshman Austen Childs fell to UCLA's Harel Srugo 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of the NCAA Singles Championship Wednesday at the University of Tulsa's Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
"Austen played hard, went ball for ball - especially on baseline points - against a significantly more experienced player in Harel Srugo," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "The difference was that Harel showed a new facet to his game by coming to the net a dozen times and was extremely successful with it. A freshman going against a senior was already a big experience gap, but with Harel made a shrewd move by bringing out something we haven't seen in our last four times seeing him and that was a difference-maker. Austen has gained great experience as one of a handful of freshmen that qualified nationally for the championship. Next year he'll know what to expect. This year, just qualifying and competing were great learning tools and will help him in the future."
Childs, No.43 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings, fell to No. 23 Srugo, a senior and top seeded player on the Bruins' third-ranked 2008 semifinalist team. Childs (Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand) wraps up his rookie campaign with a 25-14 overall record and is the first freshman and only the fourth player in U of L men's tennis history to compete in the NCAA singles championship.
Austen Childs and fellow freshman Simon Childs (Hillington, England) will face Maryland's Boris Fetbroyt and Andy Orbran on Thursday, May 22 in the NCAA Doubles Championship round of 32. The Cards' freshman duo stand in at No. 47 in the ITA doubles rankings after posting a 10-4 mark as the Cards' No. 1 doubles team. On Feb. 26, they debuted at No. 23, becoming the first freshman team in Louisville history to earn a top 25 ranking.
Childs and Childs' first round opponent, Fetbroyt and Orban (15-3), are ranked eighth in the final ITA standings. The two doubles teams met earlier in the season when then-30th ranked Fetbroyt and Orban upset the 23rd ranked Louisville duo 8-6 as the Terps defeated the Cards 4-3 in College Station, Md., on March 2.
The winner of the first round match will go on to face the winner of Tulsa (Andy Connelly/Ross Cunningham) and North Carolina State (Nick Cavaday/Jay Weinacker) Friday in the round of 16.
NCAA Singles Championship - Round of 64
May 21, 2008
Harel Srugo (UCLA) def. Austen Childs (UL) 6-2, 6-4
Players Mentioned
