Freshman Advances to Final of National Tennis Tournament
11/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Nov. 10, 2001
Waco, Texas - Freshman Benni Becker continues to impress the collegiate tennis world as he posted a semifinal victory in singles today in the Omni Hotels National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships held at the Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas. Becker will take on Minnesota junior Harsh Mankad on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. for the national title.
Becker defeated Al Garland of Pepperdine, 7-6 (5), 6-2, to advance to the tournament's final. Garland is ranked No. 4 nationally and was the tournament's No. 5 seed. Mankad beat Texas' Jean Simon, 6-2, 6-2. En route to meeting in the finals, Becker has defeated the tournament's No. 2 and No. 5 seed while Mankad has put away the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds. Neither player has lost a set in the tournament.
Becker, ranked No. 98 nationally, becomes the first freshman finalist in men's singles since 1997 champion Mike Russell of Miami (Fla.). The Orscholz, Germany native, is Baylor's first player to advance past the first round.
Becker will have his hands full with Mankad, a two-time All-Big 12 selection and native of India. Mankad played for India in last month's Davis Cup. India tied the United States in Davis Cup competition where Mankad faced Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake (the '99 Indoor champ).
In other Baylor action today, freshman Markus Hornung lost in the consolation semifinals to Mario Toledo of Tennessee, 6-1, 7-6 (4).
This event, presented by The Dallas Morning News and hosted by SMU, is the nation's premier collegiate indoor tennis tournament and is the second of three national championship events for college tennis this season. The first events - the Riviera Women's and ITA Men's All-American Championships - were held last month, and the third event is season-ending NCAA Championships in May.
The Omni Hotels National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships feature a 32-player singles field and 16-team doubles field for men and women, including: qualifiers from Omni Hotels Regional Championships held across the country during last. Overall, more than 10,000 players from nearly 600 schools participate annually in the Omni Hotels Regional and National Intercollegiate Championships.
Baylor Saturday Results
Men's Singles - Semifinals:
Benni Becker (BU) def. (5) Al Garland (Pepperdine) 7-6 (5), 6-2
Consolation - semifinals
Mario Toledo (Tennessee) def. Markus Hornung (BU) 6-1, 7-6 (4)
