University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Main Draw
Gophers End Run at All-American Championships
10/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oct. 4, 2012
Representing the University of Minnesota, Rok Bonin and Leandro Toledo took to the court in Tulsa, Okla. for the opening round of the main draw at the ITA All-American Championship. Both proved to be formidable opponents in the national event but ultimately fell short of advancement.
Toledo was the first to compete, facing Emilio Gomes of USC and falling in two by scores of 6-3, 6-0. Bonin was next on the court. Hoping to continue his winning streak from the qualifying round, he battled Princeton's Matija Pecotic, but also dropped the match in two (6-0, 6-2).
Even though neither athlete was able to advance to the next round, the duo made their mark on the program. This year marks the first time in a decade that more than one Minnesota athlete has qualified for the main draw of an ITA All-American Championship. The last pair to do so was Thomas Haug and Aleksey Zharinov in 2002.
The losses would move both athletes into the consolation round of the tournament. Toledo would meet Malte Stropp of Mississippi State in his consolation pairing, but fell in two (6-4, 6-2) to drop out of the competition. Bonin saw action against Pepperdine's Finn Tearney in the morning match-up. After dropping the first set, Bonin rebounded to pick up the three-set win and stay alive. The victory set him up for a dual with Andre Dome (Cal Poly) where his run would end with a 6-4, 6-3 downfall.
The men's tennis team has two weeks free from competition before returning to action when they host the ITA Regional Championship at Baseline Tennis Center beginning Oct. 19.
Players Mentioned
