The Stanford Cardinal men’s tennis team (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) continued its strong start to the season over the weekend in the annual Sherwood Cup in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Two Cardinal players advanced to the round of 16 in singles play while the duo of sophomore Maciek Romanowicz and junior John Morrissey captured the doubles title in what was a superb result for the pair.
The doubles competition was where Stanford excelled throughout the weekend’s play, with the team of Romanowicz and Morrissey eventually taking the title with a hard fought 8-4 victory over the University of San Diego team of senior Clarke Spinosa and freshman Filip Vittek. The duo had had a series of stellar victories throughout the Cup, picking up victories over teams from USC, UCLA and—in what must have been a tough match in which to choose a side for coach John Whitlinger—they took the semifinals, 8-6, over their fellow Stanford team of senior Jamin Ball and sophomore Trey Strobel.
Other results for the Cardinal team involved included freshman Yale Goldberg and sophomore Anthony Tsodikov combining to go 1-1 for the weekend in doubles, while senior Daniel Ho and junior Robert Stineman lost 8-2 to the eventual finalists, Vittek and Spinosa. The major takeaway from Thousand Oaks for the Cardinal, however, must have been the exemplary play of Morrissey and Romanowicz, a duo that will be looked upon to help the Cardinal secure a doubles point in many matches to come.
In singles play, Morrissey and Romanowicz paced the team again, with Morrissey beating UCLA freshman Ryoto Tachi (6-4, 6-2) and Romanowicz topping No. 70 Max Grant of USC 6-4, ret. (due to injury.) Morrissey and Romanowicz would both lose three-set heartbreakers in the Round of 16. Morrissey fell to USC freshman Connor Farren 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, and Romanowicz lost to UCLA sophomore Karue Sell, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2.
The other Stanford entrants lost in the first round, although some were hamstrung by very tough draws. Goldberg lost to national No. 1, UCLA senior Clay Thompson (6-3, 6-1). Ball fell to eventual singles winner and 11th-ranked UCLA junior Marcos Giron (7-5, 6-3), and Strobel fell to USD’s Spinosa (6-4, 6-2).
In other results, Stineman, although losing in the first round of the competition, picked up two wins in the additional matches, including a 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory over USC junior Jonny Wang, currently No. 67 in the ITA singles rankings. Goldberg also rebounded with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory over UCLA sophomore Ryoto Tachi.
Stanford will now travel to Seattle to play the Washington Huskies on Saturday in its Pac-12 opener. The two matches last year were both closely contested, with the Cardinal prevailing 4-3 and 4-2 to sweep the season series.
Contact Dylan Fugel at dfugel ‘at’ stanford.edu