Tulsa, Okla. - The Nebraska men’s tennis competed in the ITA All-American Championships this past weekend, and together tallied four wins at the tournament. Senior Shunya Maruyama led the Big Red as he reached the singles Round of 64 for the second year in a row.
Maruyama found early success in the pre-qualifying rounds of the tournament, defeating Stetson’s Tim Gennes in three competitive sets: 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5. Maruyama went on to the Round of 128, where he outmatched Hugo Salmeron from Kennesaw State in straight sets: 6-4, 6-3. On Sunday, Maruyama took on the Round of 64, facing Middle Tennessee State’s Ondrej Hovak. Maruyama forced a tiebreak in each set, but ultimately fell to Hovak 5-7, 6(4)-7.
Sophomore Leo Linquet, who also competed at the Milwaukee Tennis Classic, dominated his Round of 256 match against Arizona State’s Martin Vergara Del Puerto. In his sixth singles match of the 2023 fall season, Linquet defeated Sun Devil Vergara Del Puerto 6-4, 7-5. Linquet then went on to the Round of 128 where he fell to Vanderbilt’s Juan Lopez De Azcona: 2-6, 1-6.
In his first tournament as a Husker, Anton Shepp played both singles and doubles in Tulsa. Shepp took the first set against Wake Forest’s Jamieson Nathan, but was outmatched in sets two and three. Shepp kept the match close, but dropped the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. However, Shepp found success in his consolation match against Esteban Lopez from North Carolina A&T State. After dropping the first set, Shepp dominated the rest of the match, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Lars Johann was the final Husker to compete in Tulsa, also playing both singles and doubles. Johann lost his opening match against Liberty’s Luis Felipe Miguel on Saturday, 4-6, 4-6. In consolation play, Johann took on Baylor’s Martin Breysach, but could not come out on top, dropping the match 4-6, 3-6.
Johann and Shepp represented the Big Red in doubles play at the tournament, where they went up against the Fighting Illini. While Illinois’ Lucas Horve and Oliver Okonkwo cruised through the first set, Johann and Shepp found their groove and took the second set. Forcing a 10-point tie-break, Johann/Shepp battled until the last point, but ultimately fell to the Illinois duo, 2-6, 7-6(5), [7-10].
Up next, the Big Red will compete in Stillwater, Okla., for the ITA Regional Tournament starting Oct. 12. Stay tuned to the Nebraska Men’s Tennis social channels to keep up with upcoming fall play updates and content.
Lars Johann:
R256: Luis Felipe Miguel (Liberty) def. Lars Johann (NU): 6-4, 6-4
Consolation: Martin Breysach (Baylor) def. Lars Johann (NU): 6-4, 6-3
Leo Linquet:
R256: Leo Linquet (NU) def. Martin Vergara Del Puerto (ASU): 6-4, 7-5
R128: Juan Lopez De Azcona (Vanderbilt) def. Leo Linquet (NU): 6-2, 6-1
Shunya Maruyama:
R256: Shunya Maruyama (NU) def. Tim Gennes (Stetson): 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5
R128: Shunya Maruyama (NU) def. Hugo Salmeron (Kennesaw St.): 6-4, 6-3
R64: Ondrej Hovak (Middle Tennessee St.) def. Shunya Marurama (NU): 7-5, 7-6(4)
Anton Shepp:
R256: Jamieson Nathan (Wake Forest) def. Anton Shepp (NU): 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
Consolation: Anton Shepp (NU) def. Esteban Lopez (North Carolina A&T St.): 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Lars Johann/Anton Shepp:
R64: Lucas Horve/Oliver Okonkwo (Illinois) def. Anton Shepp/Lars Johann (NU): 6-2, 6(5)-7, [10-7]