ORLANDO, Fla. – Auburn sophomore Hamza Nasridinov, senior Billy Blaydes and junior Freddy Blaydes completed their respective runs at the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships on Wednesday at the USTA National Tennis Campus in Orlando, Florida. Nasridinov reached the second round of the singles event.
“Competing at the NCAA Championships in Orlando was a tremendous experience for our program and our guys individually,” Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds said. “Qualifying both a singles player and a doubles team is a major accomplishment, and it speaks to the standard we’re building. While our goals are always set on contending for national titles, seeing us earn a singles win on that stage shows the level of tennis we’re playing deep into the fall season.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work our guys have put in, and this fall’s success gives me great confidence and excitement as we head into the spring.”
Late Tuesday night, Nasridinov earned a 6-3, 7-6 (11) victory over Yale’s Vignesh Goginen in the opening round. After taking the first set 6-3, the two traded breaks in the second before heading to a tiebreaker. The breaker also remained tight, with Nasridinov eventually prevailing 13-11 to secure the dramatic win.
In Wednesday’s second round, the Auburn sophomore dropped the opening set to SMU’s Trevor Svajda 6-3, but bounced back by taking a 4-1 lead in the second set and eventually claiming it 6-2 to force a third. Svajda got off to a fast start in the decisive set and ultimately took the match.
On Wednesday evening, Billy and Freddy Blaydes teamed up in doubles after earning their bid through the ITA South Sectional Championship.
Facing Wake Forest’s DK Suresh and Andrew Delgado, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, the Tigers struck first, earning a break at 2-2 and holding to win the opening set 6-4. Suresh and Delgado answered by taking the second set 6-3 to force a match tiebreak, then claimed the 10-6 breaker to defeat the Auburn duo.
The NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships marks the end of the fall schedule for the Tigers. Dual match play will begin after the start of the new year.
Auburn Results:
Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) def. #33 Vignesh Goginen (YALE) 6-3, 7-6 (11)
#22 Trevor Svajda (SMU) def. Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) 6-3, 2-6, 6-0
#22 DK Suresh/Andrew Delgado (WAKE) def. #20 Billy Blaydes/Freddy Blaydes (AUB) 4-6, 6-3, [10-6]