Thursday, May 25
Orlando, Fla.
2:00 PM
University of Louisville
vs
NCAA Doubles Championship
Rodrigues and Salle End Postseason Run in NCAA Doubles Quarterfinals
May 25, 2023 | Men's Tennis
Rodrigues and Salle lost in three sets to Texas’ third-ranked Harper and Spizzirri in the NCAA Doubles Quarterfinals
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Louisville's duo of sophomore Natan Rodrigues and graduate senior Fabien Salle ended its postseason run with a loss in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship Thursday evening at the United States Tennis Association National Campus.
Just an hour after earning All-America distinction with a win in the NCAA doubles round of 16, the Cardinals' 12th-ranked tandem squared off against the University of Texas No. 3-ranked Cleeve Harper and Eliot Spizzirri in the quarterfinals. The Longhorns jumped ahead quickly with a 6-2 win in the first set, but Louisville countered, grinding out a 7-6 (7-0) win in the second set to force a super breaker for the third straight match in the championship. Harper and took the lead early in the 10-point tiebreak and held on for a 10-5 victory.
Rodrigues (Salvador Bahia, Brazil) and Salle (Thonon-les-Bains, France) close the season with a 26-8 overall record after becoming the second All-American doubles team in program history.
"I am so proud of how the guys competed," said UofL head coach Rodrigo da Silva. "Texas played a great first set and had a lot of momentum going into the second set. The guys stayed focused and were able to fight back. We made some key mistakes in the third set tiebreaker and the Texas team was able to capitalize. It is sad to see Fabien playing his match as Cardinal, but I am happy that he is leaving as an All-American and I am excited to see him playing at the ATP events."
NCAA Doubles Championship (Quarterfinals)
May 25, 2023 | USTA National Campus, Orlando, Fla.
No. 3 Cleeve Harper and Eliot Spizzirri (UT) def. No. 12 Natan Rodrigues/Fabien Salle (UL) 6-2, 6-7 (0), 1-0 (5)
Just an hour after earning All-America distinction with a win in the NCAA doubles round of 16, the Cardinals' 12th-ranked tandem squared off against the University of Texas No. 3-ranked Cleeve Harper and Eliot Spizzirri in the quarterfinals. The Longhorns jumped ahead quickly with a 6-2 win in the first set, but Louisville countered, grinding out a 7-6 (7-0) win in the second set to force a super breaker for the third straight match in the championship. Harper and took the lead early in the 10-point tiebreak and held on for a 10-5 victory.
Rodrigues (Salvador Bahia, Brazil) and Salle (Thonon-les-Bains, France) close the season with a 26-8 overall record after becoming the second All-American doubles team in program history.
"I am so proud of how the guys competed," said UofL head coach Rodrigo da Silva. "Texas played a great first set and had a lot of momentum going into the second set. The guys stayed focused and were able to fight back. We made some key mistakes in the third set tiebreaker and the Texas team was able to capitalize. It is sad to see Fabien playing his match as Cardinal, but I am happy that he is leaving as an All-American and I am excited to see him playing at the ATP events."
NCAA Doubles Championship (Quarterfinals)
May 25, 2023 | USTA National Campus, Orlando, Fla.
No. 3 Cleeve Harper and Eliot Spizzirri (UT) def. No. 12 Natan Rodrigues/Fabien Salle (UL) 6-2, 6-7 (0), 1-0 (5)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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