Nov. 8, 2014
(Credit: ITA)
Tournament Central |Doubles Main Draw
FLUSHING, N.Y. - Fighting Illini men's tennis seniors Tim Kopinski and Ross Guignon advanced to the final of the ITA National Indoor Championships Saturday afternoon with a 6-3, 3-6, 1-0(7) victory over McDonald/Redlicki (UCLA).The Improving upon their semifinal appearance from last season, No. 2 Kopinski and Guignon will face No. 19 Hanfmann/Quiroz of USC for a national title Sunday at 10:30 a.m. CT. Hanfmann/Quiroz received the No. 1 seed in the tournament.
"Tim and Ross played very clean doubles again today," assistant coach Marcos Asse said. "That doesn't always guarantee victory, but it will certainly put you in a winning position. While Ross and Tim didn't play amazing, they took advantage of that winning position they earned. As Ross told me afterwards, he's been in these situations before and he was just going to play a certain way, no matter what. Fitting that he cut off the winning volley to seal the match. I couldn't be prouder of these two Illini!"
Entering the tournament unseeded, Kopinski and Guignon defeated Corintelli/Shane (UVA) 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals. The Illini seniors then took down Gregurovic/Ostojic of Wichita State 7-6(4), 6-3. Kopinski & Guignon received a first round bye.
. Kopinski and Guignon entered the weekend as an at-large selection after and up-and-down fall season. Guignon was forced to miss ITA Midwest Regionals with an injury. Despite a first round loss at the ITA All-American Championships in early October, the tandem reached the consolation finals.
