Ohio State beat TCU to claim the ITA National Team Indoor Championships!



by LORENZO CIOTTI

Ohio State beat TCU to claim the ITA National Team Indoor Championships!
© Ohio State website

No.1 Ohio State University men's tennis team confirmed the prediction, beating No.2 TCU 4-3 to win the ITA National Team Indoor Championships final, in New York.

This was the third national indoor title for the program and director of tennis Ty Tucker. It was their seventh appearance in the final as they also won the title in 2014 and 2019.

Ohio State and TCU met in the semifinals of last year's NCAA Tournament in Orlando in May. The Buckeyes won that game 4-0. TCU got the better of the Buckeyes in indoor nationals in 2022. Monday was just their sixth meeting all-time and the series is tied 3-3.

The Horned Frogs will begin the outdoor portion of their schedule when No. 4 Texas visits Fort Worth on March 2. The first service is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will count as a non-conference affair.

TCU won the point in doubles and had the momentum early in singles. But the Buckeyes stuck with it and got a three-set win from sophomore Alexander Bernard to tie it at 3-3 and fifth-year senior Robert Cash provided the deciding point with his three-set win.

TCU, the two-time reigning indoor champions, earned a hard-fought double point. Cash and Bernard were outstanding once again, winning 6-2 on court three, but TCU picked up late breaks on courts 1 and 2 and won both games to take the point. Cash and Bernard went 2-1 this weekend in doubles.

In singles, TCU got its first win under Jake Fearnley, downing Cannon Kingsley 6-1, 6-0. The Buckeyes responded with wins from Jack Anthrop and JJ Tracy. Anthrop won 7-5, 6-2 on court four and Tracy followed closely with a 6-4, 6-4 win on court three. Tracy was 4-0 in singles this weekend.

Jack Pennington defeated Justin Boulais on court two, 6-4, 6-4 to give the Horned Frogs a 3-2 lead. This left the game in the hands of Cash and Bernard on courts five and six, which were located on opposite ends of the building. Both matches would go to the decisive third set.

Cash got the first break in his match and held the 3-1 lead. Bernard returned to serve after missing the first two games. He then broke and held on for a 6–3 victory. This tied the team's game and sent everyone to the other side of the building. Cash fought to hold serve and break advantage and eventually won 6-3.

Men's singles:

1. #62 Jake Fearnley (TCU) def. #67 Kingsley Cannon (OSU) 6-1, 6-0
2. #4 Jack Pinnington (TCU) def. #25 Justin Boulais (OSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. #7 JJ Tracy (OSU) def. #20 Pedro Vives (TCU) 6-4, 6-4
4. #13 Jack Anthrop (OSU) def. #39 Sebastian Gorzny (TCU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Robert Cash (OSU) def. #59 Lui Maxted (TCU) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-3
6. #86 Alexander Bernard (OSU) def. Tomas Jirousek (TCU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Men's doubles:

1. #8 Sebastian Gorzny/Pedro Vives (TCU) def. Andrew Lutschaunig/Justin Boulais (OSU) 6-3
2. Jack Pinnington/Jake Fearnley (TCU) def. Cannon Kingsley/JJ Tracy (OSU) 6-4
3. Alexander Bernard/Robert Cash (OSU) def. #20 Duncan Chan/Lui Maxted (TCU) 6-2

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