TULSA, Okla. - The first men's national title of the fall season was in full swing this week as the nation's top players converged upon Tulsa's Michael D. Case Tennis Center for the ITA Men's All-American Championships. Tim Kopinski was the bright spot for the Illini as he reached the round of 16 of the main singles draw. Meanwhile, the tandem of Kopinski and Ross Guignon reached the finals in the doubles consolation bracket. 

Kopinski started his All-American Championships action on Thursday morning where he defeated North Carolina State's Austin Powell 6-3, 7-5. He would then take down Nick Chappell (TCU) in straight sets 6-2, 6-3. Kopinski fell to No. 1 ranked Julian Lenz, the one seed in the draw, 6-7 (2), 6-2, 7-5 in the round of 16. 

In the doubles draw, the second-seeded Illinois team of Guignon and Kopinski suffered some deja-vu from last season's All-American Championships, failing to Austin Gonzales and Rhys Johnson of Vanderbildt 6-4, 6-3. For the second straight year, Austin topped this doubles team in the first round. 

However, Kopinski/Guignon displayed resilience and bounced back nicely in the consolation bracket. After earning victories over teams from Virginia Tech and North Florida, the Illini duo defeated Ian Dempster and Robbie Mudge of North Carolina State 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(5) to reach the finals. In the consolation championship, the Illini fell to TCU's Nick Chappell and Will Stein 6-1, 6-3. 

Next up for the Fighting Illini is the ITA Midwest Regional held in Ann Arbor, Michigan Oct. 16-20. 

 

Illini Results

Singles Main Draw

Tim Kopinski (ILL) def. Austin Powell (NCST), 6-3, 7-5

Tim Kopinski  (ILL) def. Nick Chappel (TCU), 6-2, 6-3

Julian Lemz (BAYLOR) def. Tim Kopinski (ILL), 6-7(2), 6-2, 7-5

Ben Lott (DRAKE) def. Jared Hiltzik (ILL), 6-4, 7-5

 

Doubles Main Draw

Austin/Johnson (VANDY) def. Guignon/Kopinski (ILL), 6-4, 6-3

 

Doubles Consolation

Guignon/Kopinski (ILL) def. Bjerrehus/Contini (VT), 7-5, 6-3 

Guignon/Kopinski (ILL) def. Findel-Hawkins/Nemcsek (UNF), 7-6(2), 3-6, 1-0(10)

Guignon/Kopinski (ILL) def. Dempster/Mudge (NCST), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(5)

Chappell/Stein (TCU) def. Guignon/Kopinski (ILL) (TEX), 6-1, 6-3 

 

Qualifying

Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Christopher Mengel (DUKE), 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-1

Aleks Vukic (ILL) def. Oskar Wikberg (CAL), 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

Ralf Steinbach (OSU) def. Aleks Vukic (ILL), 7-5, 7-6(3)

Dusty Boyer (NEB) def. Ross Guignon (ILL), 6-2, 7-6(3)