Melnikov, Koduri Advance to Championship Doubles Semifinals

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - The team of Michael Melnikov and Utham Koduri highlighted the second day of the ITA Regionals as they advanced to the championship doubles semifinals with a pair of victories on Saturday.

Melnikov and Max Lindstrom also advanced to the championship singles quarterfinals after winning their first matchups of the day. However, both individuals dropped their respective matches in this afternoon's quarterfinals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES
- Top-seeded Melnikov/ Koduri opened the day with a victory in the round of 16 teams. The Swarthmore duo bested Salisbury University, 8-3. The pairing then defeated Haverford College, 8-4, to advance to tomorrow's semifinals against Carnegie Mellon University.

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES
- After his doubles victory, Melnikov defeated Johns Hopkins University in the round of 16 competitors. The sophomore took both sets over Joshua Kim by a 6-4 decision. He then advanced to the quarterfinals where he lost to Carnegie Mellon's Daniel Kong in a highly-competitive showdown. Melnikov coasted to a 6-0 decision in the opening set, but fell 6-3 in the second set. He was then eliminated after dropping the tiebreaker, 10-7.

- Lindstrom took down Washington & Lee to advance to the quarterfinals. The sophomore had to battle back after dropping the opening set, 6-4. Lindstrom then took the second set, 6-1, before taking the tiebreaker, 10-3. After opening his day with a comeback victory, Lindstrom fell short in his quarterfinals matchup versus Washington & Lee, 6-0, 6-1.

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES CONSOLATION
- Winston Zhang won his opening round matchup in the consolation bracket versus Haverford College. After narrowly losing the opening set, 6-4, Zhang bounced back to take the second set, 7-5. The first-year then sealed his comeback victory with a 10-5 decision in the tiebreaker. However, Zhang dropped his second-round matchup versus Washington & Lee, 6-4, 6-3.

UP NEXT
Melnikov/ Koduri advanced to tomorrow's action in the Championship Doubles bracket. The sophomore duo will square off against Carnegie Mellon in the semifinals.

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