In the NCAA Doubles Championship Quarterfinals, the duo of Natan Rodrigues and Fabien Salle from the University of Louisville faced off against Cleeve Harper and Eliot Spizzirri from the University of Texas. The Cardinals’ team had already earned All-America distinction in the round of 16, but they couldn’t advance any further, as they were defeated 6-2, 6-7 (0), 1-0 (5) in the quarterfinals.
Harper and Spizzirri from the University of Texas got off to an early lead in the first set with a 6-2 win, but Rodrigues and Salle fought back and managed to win the second set 7-6 (7-0), forcing a super breaker. However, the Longhorns were able to take the lead and hold on for a 10-5 win in the super breaker to advance to the semifinals.
Despite the loss, Rodrigues and Salle had an impressive season and became the second All-American doubles team in the program’s history. The Cardinals’ duo finished the season with a 26-8 overall record. UofL head coach Rodrigo da Silva expressed pride in his team’s performance and was happy to see Salle leave the program as an All-American.
The United States Tennis Association National Campus in Orlando, Florida hosted the NCAA Doubles Championship Quarterfinals where eight of the best doubles teams in the country competed. The tournament usually takes place in May at the end of the college tennis season. The University of Texas had a strong representation in the event, and their team of Harper and Spizzirri eventually advanced to the final before losing to the University of Southern California’s duo of Bradley Frye and Stefan Dostanic.
Overall, the NCAA Doubles Championship is an important event for student-athletes as it features some of the best tennis players from across the country competing for a national title. For many participating student-athletes, the event marks the end of their college career, making it a bittersweet moment for many.
