Daniel Phillips and his No. 45 ranked Arizona State Men's Tennis teammates have pulled off a stunning 4-3 upset victory over No. 14 Baylor in the UTR College Championships, in a match that epitomized grit and determination.
The near five-hour marathon saw Arizona State break Baylor's six-match winning streak, fuelled by a series of impressive performances. Notably, ASU's doubles pair upset the #15 ranked Baylor duo, and straight-set wins over highly ranked opponents in the first and second singles positions proved crucial.
The doubles point proved to be a pivotal moment in the match. After a loss on court two, all eyes turned to courts one and three, both locked in tense tie-breaks. With the doubles pairings playing together for the first time this season, the pressure was immense. However, both duos held their nerve, securing crucial 7-6 (5) victories to give Arizona State a 1-0 lead heading into the singles matches.
Phillips, partnering with Bor Artnak, played a key role in securing the doubles point. They faced Os Brostrom Poulsen and Marko Miladinovic in a nail-biting encounter, eventually prevailing 7-6 (7-5) in the tie-break.
The victory is a testament to the resilience and fighting spirit of the Arizona State team. Their ability to perform under pressure, especially in the crucial doubles tie-breaks, proved to be the difference. The upset win over Baylor will undoubtedly provide a significant boost to their confidence as they continue their season.
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