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GoFrogs: Norrie & Rybakov Move On
FORT WORTH, Texas – In the first day of action at the NCAA Division I Men’s Singles Championship, both TCU men’s tennis players scored straight-set victories to move into the Round of 32 at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla., on Wednesday.
All-American and No. 5 seed Cameron Norrie opened the day by easily handling No. 21 Mike Redlicki of Arkansas, 6-2, 6-2. In his debut individual championship, freshman Alex Rybakov cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 45 Hugo Di Feo of Ohio State.
Norrie recorded two breaks of Redlicki in the opening frame to take a 5-2 lead before serving it out to take the first set, 6-2. The sophomore then rolled out to a 5-0 lead to start the second set and scored three breaks in the process. Redlicki fought back to break Norrie and hold serve to put the score at 5-2, but Norrie went for the winner on deuce point to finish out the match, 6-2, 6-2, and record his 25th victory of the season and 19th over a ranked opponent.
Rybakov went up an early break to open his match against Di Feo, but the Buckeye came back to even up the first set at 3-3. The freshman did not falter and won the next three games to take the opening set, 6-3. To start the second set, Rybakov broke Di Feo twice in the first five games to run out to a 4-1 lead. Di Feo broke right back to make it 4-2, before Rybakov easily won the next two games to finish out the match, 6-3, 6-2, and score his 21st victory this season and 11th over a ranked foe.
Quotes of the Match
Sophomore Cameron Norrie
On his win today
“At the start of the match, I was a little bit nervous. I’m hitting the ball well and I had good few days of preparation. I did everything solid. I hit my forehand well. My backhand was moving. I managed to come forward a bit and knock off some vollies. I’m just really excited to move on to the next round.â€
On having to battle a little bit in the second set
“He fought hard. I was up 5-0 and he got it back to 5-2. At deuce point at 5-2, I just went with my best play and it managed to pay off.â€
On playing in the individual tournament
“It’s different playing the team the whole year, and then you come out and play an individual tournament. It’s kind of a nice change. It’s a great tournament. This is a great facility here in Tulsa. I’m just excited to move on.â€
Results
NCAA Individual Championships
May 25, 2016 at Tulsa, Okla.
(Michael D. Case Tennis Center)
#5 Cameron Norrie (TCU) def. #21 Mike Redlicki (Arkansas) 6-2, 6-2
#24 Alex Rybakov (TCU) def. #45 Hugo Di Feo (Ohio State) 6-3, 6-2
Up Next
Action in the singles championship continues on Thursday, May 26 at the Case Tennis Center as Norrie will face-off with No. 40 Sam Schropshire of Northwestern in the Round of 32, while Rybakov will meet No. 13 Skander Mansouri of Wake Forest.