Boys' Tennis News

by: Boys Tennis Contributor

At this week’s section doubles tournament, NA’s two doubles teams dominated the competition. On Tuesday, both teams won two matches to reach the semifinals and on Wednesday, they both won their respective half of the draw to set up an all-NA final.

The second-seeded team of junior Ashwin Sudhakar and senior Matthew Kampi picked up where they left off yesterday by dominating the Mars #1 team comprised of Cal Johnson and Jaxon Hittle, 6-3, 6-2. In the other semifinal, the team of upstart juniors Shivum Telang and Ronit Ginde picked up their second “upset” in a row by downing the fourth-seeded team from Pine-Richland made up of Ryan Moore and Arav Amin, 6-3, 6-3. This set up a coach’s dream matchup where an NA section doubles champion was guaranteed even before the final began. It is the fourth straight year that both NA teams reached the final.

The championship match saw Telang and Ginde, perhaps still disgruntled over their ridiculously low eighth seed, jump to an early lead. They rode this advantage to surprise their teammates and take the first set 6-3 as Telang’s net play proved too much for the two seeds to handle. NA’s top team was undeterred as they took the second set 6-1 to even the match. The decisive third set went back and forth, but in the end, the talent of Sudhakar and Kampi won out, 6-3.

Man of the Match/Tournament honors went to Ashwin Sudhakar in a unanimous vote. Sudhakar relied on his powerful serve, overpowering groundstrokes, and seasoned experience to lead the champions through four matches in two days.

Both teams advance to the WPIAL Championships next week at North Allegheny. It will be Telang’s third appearance as Ginde and Kampi each make their second. Meanwhile, Sudhakar will be making his first trip to the tournament.

 

Tournament Summary

Semifinals
#2 Ashwin Sudhakar/Matthw Kampi (NA) def. #3 Cal Johnson/Jaxon Hittle (Mars) 6-3, 6-2
#8 Shivum Telang/Ronit Ginde (NA) def. #4 Ryan Moore/Arav Amin (PR) 6-3, 6-3

 

Championship

#2 Ashwin Sudhakar/Matthw Kampi (NA) def. #8 Shivum Telang/Ronit Ginde (NA) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3