Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Sunday, May 23
Orlando, Fla.
Middle Tennessee
vs
NCAA Singles Championships
Photo by: Ole Miss Athletics
Rocha Falls to #18 Andrade in NCAA First Round
5/23/2021 8:15:00 PM | Men's Tennis
ORLANDO, Fla. – Francisco Rocha fell Sunday night to #18 Andy Andrade of Florida, 6-7 (2), 0-6 in the first round of the NCAA Singles Championship.
The junior was the first Blue Raider to qualify for the singles championship in more than 10 years and had a tough matchup with Andrade, who had won the previous night in Orlando to help the Gators win their first team National Championship in program history.
The first set was a battle that lasted over an hour as the two players traded holds of serve for the first four games before breaking each other serves for the next four games. With the set now tied at four, each player held serve before Andrade broke once more to take a 6-5 lead.
Now serving for the match, Andrade went up 40-0, but Rocha managed to win four straight points to break back for the third time to force the tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, it remained on serve for the first five points before Andrade won five straight points to take the tiebreak, 7-2, and clinch the set.
Andrade, exactly as he had done the night before against Baylor in the National Championship match, rolled in the second set, 6-0, after winning the first set in a tiebreak.
For Rocha, the future is bright after qualifying for the NCAAs this season after not breaking the singles lineup two seasons ago as a freshman.
The junior was the first Blue Raider to qualify for the singles championship in more than 10 years and had a tough matchup with Andrade, who had won the previous night in Orlando to help the Gators win their first team National Championship in program history.
The first set was a battle that lasted over an hour as the two players traded holds of serve for the first four games before breaking each other serves for the next four games. With the set now tied at four, each player held serve before Andrade broke once more to take a 6-5 lead.
Now serving for the match, Andrade went up 40-0, but Rocha managed to win four straight points to break back for the third time to force the tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, it remained on serve for the first five points before Andrade won five straight points to take the tiebreak, 7-2, and clinch the set.
Andrade, exactly as he had done the night before against Baylor in the National Championship match, rolled in the second set, 6-0, after winning the first set in a tiebreak.
For Rocha, the future is bright after qualifying for the NCAAs this season after not breaking the singles lineup two seasons ago as a freshman.
Players Mentioned
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