Vanderbilt Rallies Past UNC in 4-3 Thriller to Open ITA Kickoff Weekend
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - In a match that had all the makings of an early-season classic, Vanderbilt men’s tennis clawed back from a 2-0 deficit to edge North Carolina, 4-3, in the opening round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend regional at Wake Forest Tennis Center on Friday afternoon.
It was a tale of two halves - UNC came out swinging, but Vanderbilt had the final word.
Tar Heels Start Hot in Doubles
North Carolina wasted no time asserting itself in doubles. Logan Zapp and Roan Jones set the tone with a statement win on Court 2, taking down the No. 42-ranked pair of Danil Panarin and Jack Satterfield, 6-2. That early edge gave the Tar Heels momentum, but Vanderbilt answered with a win at No. 3 doubles.
With the point hanging in the balance, it came down to the top court. Chris Xu and Niels Ratiu delivered under pressure, saving two break points and sealing the deal with a 6-4 win over Pablo Martinez Gomez and Hoyoung Roh. That clinched the doubles point and gave UNC a 1-0 lead.
Ratiu Extends Lead, Then the Tide Turns
Riding the high from doubles, Ratiu kept the pedal down in singles. The No. 83-ranked Tar Heel was clinical at No. 4, breezing past Satterfield 6-3, 6-1 to stretch the lead to 2-0.
But that’s when Vanderbilt flipped the script.
Nathan Cox got the Commodores on the board with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Zapp at No. 5, and Panarin followed with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 84 Ian Mayew at No. 3 to even the match at 2-2.
Trading Blows at the Top
Constantinos Djakouris briefly put the Tar Heels back in front with a strong showing on Court 6. His 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 94 Hugo Coquelin gave UNC a 3-2 edge - but that lead didn’t last long.
Martinez Gomez, ranked No. 62, answered for Vanderbilt at the top spot. He overpowered Xu 6-2, 6-3 to knot things up once again, setting the stage for a winner-take-all showdown at No. 2.
Roh Delivers the Deciding Blow
With the match tied 3-3, all eyes turned to Court 2, where No. 56 Roan Jones and Hoyoung Roh were locked in a battle of wills.
Jones struck first, taking the opening set 6-3. But Roh responded with a 6-3 second set of his own, setting up a decisive third.
The Vanderbilt sophomore came out firing, breaking Jones early and again in the fifth game to go up 4-2. From there, he held serve and closed it out 6-4 - sealing the comeback win for the Commodores.
What’s Next
North Carolina will look to bounce back on Saturday when they face either Wake Forest or Virginia Tech in their final match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, moves one step closer to securing a spot at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
Match Results
Doubles
1.
#44 Ratiu/Xu (UNC) def. Martinez Gomez/Roh (Vandy) - 6-4
- Zapp/Jones (UNC) def.
#42 Panarin/Satterfield (Vandy) - 6-2
3.
Cox/Coquelin (Vandy) def. #83 Mayew/Schinnerer (UNC) - 6-2
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1.
#62 Martinez Gomez (Vandy) def. Xu (UNC) - 6-2, 6-3
- Roh (Vandy) def.
#56 Jones (UNC) - 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
3.
Panarin (Vandy) def. #84 Mayew (UNC) - 6-2, 6-2
- #83 Ratiu (UNC) def.
Satterfield (Vandy) - 6-3, 6-1
5.
Cox (Vandy) def. Zapp (UNC) - 6-3, 6-2
- Djakouris (UNC) def.
#94 Coquelin (Vandy) - 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish: 4, 5, 3, 6, 1, 2
This one had everything - early momentum swings, clutch performances, and a high-stakes finish. And if it’s a preview of what’s to come in the college tennis season, fans are in for a treat.