Cunha advances to semis at ITA Indoors

Junior Henrique Cunha traveled to the ITA National Indoor Championship this weekend looking for redemption. Last year, he lost in the quarterfinals of both the singles and doubles brackets, playing with partner then-senior Reid Carleton. This time in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., though, Cunha was hungry for a stronger showing on this national stage.

“Last year was my first time [at the ITA National Indoor Championship] so it was a new experience,” he said. “I was more prepared to do well this time.”

Now without Carleton, Cunha chased success in doubles with his new partner, sophomore Chris Mengel. The new pair, ranked 15th nationally, upset No. 9 John Collins and Maros Horny of Maryland in the first round. The win was Cunha and Mengel’s first against a higher ranked opponent, and secured their spot in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately for the Blue Devil duo, their tournament ended when they were defeated by third-ranked Chase Buchanan and Blaz Rola of Ohio State, 8-6. Cunha and Mengel leave the tournament with a 7-4 doubles record for the fall season.

Fourth-ranked Cunha, though, found greater success in singles play. Having defeated No. 70 Andrea Mies of Auburn in the first round 6-1, 6-1, Cunha found himself facing Stanford’s No. 14 Ryan Thacher. Despite losing the first set, Cunha defeated Thacher in the next two to take a 6-4, 6-3 victory. No. 8 Evan King of Michigan was no match for Cunha either, losing two straight sets 6-2, 6-3, securing Cunha’s place in the singles semifinals.

Cunha’s streak ended when he fell to top-seeded Mitchell Frank of Virginia in the semifinals 6-2, 6-3. Cunha now finds himself with a 12-4 fall season ledger in singles play.

“Overall I felt I played really well,” Cunha said. I wasn’t at 100 percent because I was tired from all the matches, but that’s no excuse. Frank deserved the win.”

Mengel, ranked 49th nationally, had earned a spot in the singles bracket after his individual title in the ITA Carolinas Regional last month. He found himself in the consolation bracket, though, after a narrow first-round loss to No. 31 Christopher Aumueller of Nebraska by a score of 6-1, 7-6 (2). Mengel moved on to defeat Mies—who found himself in the consolation bracket courtesy of Cunha—with a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory. In the next round, however, Mengel ran into No. 7-seed Will Spencer, who had been upset in the first round of play. Spencer came away with a 6-2, 6-4 victory, ending Mengel’s run.

“Chris was much better in doubles this weekend,” head coach Ramsey Smith said. “[Cunha and Mengel] showed improvements in singles and doubles.”