SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Swarthmore College men's tennis team began its weekend at the Skidmore Open on Saturday.
Michael Melnikov won his first two matches to reach the semifinals of the top draw while
Andres Fente and
Fate MacAlasdair both advanced in the Flight D bracket.
In doubles, Melnikov and
Utham Koduri won a pair of matches to move on to the final of the top flight.
Max Lindstrom and
Nikola Galov remain alive in the B draw while
Winston Zhang and
Aamish Pal are still in contention in Flight C. MacAlasdair and
Cameron Samek won their opening bout in Flight D.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Melnikov opened play with a 7-5, 6-2 victory against Williams College in the Round of 16. The senior then earned a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Middlebury College to advance to the semifinals, where he will face Denison University.
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Kai Chen started with a 6-3, 6-4 win versus Middlebury in the Flight B Round of 16. He was then dealt a tough 6-3, 3-6, 0-1 (9-11) defeat in the quarterfinals by Bowdoin College.
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Seth Sadikov picked up a Round of 16 win in Flight C, pulling out a 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 1-0 (10-8) decision against Denison. He then suffered a narrow 7-5, 3-6, 0-1 (8-10) quarterfinals loss to Wesleyan University.
- Fente came out on top in his opening match in Flight D, defeating Bowdoin 7-5, 6-3. He then took down his opponent from Denison, 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. MacAlasdair opened with a straight sets win, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), versus Bowdoin in the Round of 16 before gutting out a 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4) victory over Wesleyan in the quarters. Fente and MacAlasdair will battle each other in an All-Swarthmore semifinal.
- Melnikov/Koduri opened doubles action with a 6-4 win versus Wesleyan then came through with a tight 7-6 (7-1) semifinal victory against Williams. The duo will face Middlebury in the final.
- Lindstrom/Galov defeated Wesleyan 6-4 in the quarterfinals then earned a 7-6 (7-1) triumph versus Middlebury to reach the final. The pair will battle Denison on Sunday.
- Zhang/Pal reached the final in Flight C with wins over Williams 6-2, and Skidmore 6-3. They will take on Wesleyan next. MacAlasdair/Samek won 6-2 versus Bowdoin and will face Wesleyan in the semifinals of Flight D.
UP NEXT
The tournament concludes on Sunday.
