URBANA, Ill. - Junior Japie De Klerk, ranked No. 41 in the ITA Rankings, rallied to take down No. 13-ranked Evan King of Michigan in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 battle in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Singles Championship on Saturday at the Atkins Tennis Center.
De Klerk becomes the first player in program history to reach the semifinals in the singles championship, as Arnau Brugues made the NCAA quarterfinals in 2007 and 2009.
"I played an amazing match, probably one of my best matches of my life," De Klerk commented. "I'm happy that I have made it this far in the tournament, and am ready for the semifinals tomorrow."
The match started outdoors before rain arrived at the Atkins Tennis Center forcing all action inside. After waiting for over an hour for an open court, De Klerk and King resumed their first set, which De Klerk lost, 3-6. De Klerk and King battled to a 3-3 tie in the second frame before De Klerk took the final three games to win the set, 6-3, to force a third frame. In the deciding set, the two players were tied at two apiece until De Klerk took the final four games to win the set, 6-2, to clinch the match.
"It was a tough first set, but once I got a few chances in the second set I knew I had a great opportunity to win," De Klerk said. "I played a great third set that clinched the match."
"It was another great win by Japie in the NCAA Tournament," commented Head Coach Vince Westbrook. "Many consider Evan King the top American in college tennis, so for Japie to beat him solidifies the fact that Japie is one of the top players in college tennis."
De Klerk will face No. 12-ranked Blaz Rola of Ohio State tomorrow at noon. Rola is coming off of a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, triumph over No. 9-ranked Henrique Cunha of Duke.
The other quarterfinal match tomorrow features No. 3-ranked Jarmere Jenkins of Virginia against No. 11-ranked Sebastian Fanselow of Pepperdine.
For all Tulsa men's tennis news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane. Follow Tulsa men's Tennis on Twitter (http://twitter.com/TulsaMTennis) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TulsaMTennis)
-TulsaHurricane.com-
2013 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Singles Championships
May 25, 2013 at Urbana, Ill.
(Atkins Tennis Center)
No. 41 Japie De Klerk (Tulsa) def. No. 13 Evan King (Michigan) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
2013 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Singles Championships
May 26, 2013 at Urbana, Ill.
(Atkins Tennis Center)
No. 41 Japie De Klerk (Tulsa) vs. No. 12 Blaz Rola (Ohio State), Noon
