Rain slowed play at the Southern Intercollegiates this weekend as four Blue Devils competed in individual play. But despite the weather, Duke’s players on the whole performed well.
Freshman Henrique Cunha defeated Alabama’s Michael Davis 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 in the tournament’s Round of 64, and then pulled off one of the event’s biggest upsets in the Round of 32. Facing top seed John-Patrick Smith from Tennessee, Cunha edged a third-set tiebreaker to ensure an appearance in the tournament’s Round of 16.
There, Cunha defeated yet another opponent, Georgia Tech’s Elliot Potvin, to advance to the quarterfinals. It was an impressive result for the Brazil native, a player who had never taken part in a collegiate match.
And though the team’s new addition may have stolen most of the spotlight, his teammates also showed some promise. Fifth seed Reid Carleton ousted Alabama’s Ricky Doverspike in straight sets before falling in a tight three-setter to Ryan Lipman of Vanderbilt. Sophomore Torstein Wietoska also made it to the second round before falling to Guillermo Gomez of Georgia Tech in straight sets.
Cunha, Carleton and Wietoska all received byes into the Round of 64. The tournament was scheduled to conclude Monday, but it is unclear if all matches will be played because of the consistently poor weather.
Those players still alive in the quarters could play up to three matches Monday if tournament organizers choose to finish the event the same day.
Seniors David Lue and Aaron Carpenter were the only Blue Devils to lose their first matches Friday. Lue lost to Henry Mangin 7-6 (9), 6-4 in the Division II bracket involving lower-seeded players.
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