Menlo News March 09, 2024

Boys’ tennis defends Bay Area Classic title

Knights defeat O’Dowd, Amador Valley, University-SF and Homestead in the rescheduled event

Menlo boys' tennis wins 5th Annual Bay Area Tennis Classic — Menlo boys’ tennis wins 5th Annual Bay Area Tennis Classic

Menlo School boys' tennis defends Bay Area Classic title — Menlo School boys’ tennis defends Bay Area Classic title

After heavy rains delayed the Fifth Annual Bay Area Tennis Classic a week, the Menlo School boys’ tennis team defended its tournament title, defeating Homestead 7-0 in the final Saturday afternoon.

On its way to its fourth tournament title, the Knights (5-0) defeated University-S.F. 5-2 in a tight match with four matches going to supere tiebreakers. On Friday, Menlo beat Bishop O’Dowd 7-0 and Amador Valley 6-1.

Top seed Cooper Han, a junior, went 2-1, sophomore Yuanye Ma 3-0 at No. 2. Freshmen Lucas Huang went 4-0 (at No. 3 and No. 1) and Surya De Datta also went 4-0 at (No. 4 singles, No. 2 singles and No.1 doubles).

Senior Sam Engel went 4-0 at No. 3 singles, No. 1 and No. 2 doubles with De Datta and junior Kavan Kumar, who finished 4-0 at No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles,. The team of sophomore Arki Temsamani and freshman David Lipeles went 3-1; senior Nikhil Kothari and freshman James Park 2-0 and seniors Derek Jain and Arjun Saluja 1-1.

Resembling a NorCal Tournament, the Classic was played at both Menlo courts, as well as Menlo-Atherton and Gunn on Friday and Saturday.

Tournament directors Bill Shine of Menlo and Gene Fortino of Monta Vista postponed the tournament due to heavy rains and to give Southern California teams a chance to cancel flights. Days later, the 16-team bracket was again filled.

In the 16-team tournament Menlo and Monta Vista welcomed Amador Valley, Bellarmine, Bishop O’Dowd, Dougherty Valley, Foothill, Gunn, Homestead, Leigh, Menlo-Atherton, Mission -San Jose, Monte Vista-Danville, Piedmont, Redwood, University-San Francisco,

Bay Area Tennis Classic

Menlo 7, Homestead 0

Singles – Cooper Han d. Tahk 6-4, 6-2; Yuanye Ma d. Huang 7-5, 6-3; Lucas Huang d. 7-5, 6-3, Surya De Datta d. Mana 7-5, 6-3.

Doubles – Sam Engel-Kavan Kumar d. Hutt-Gismara 6-4, 6-4; Arki Temsamani-David Lipales d. Soto-Pam 6-2, 6-2; Nikhil Kothari-James Park d. A. Lai-J. Lai 6-2, 6-4

Final round

Bellarmine 4, Amador Valley 3

Monte Vista 4, Redwood 3

Complete bracket

Semifinals: Blue Division

Menlo 5, University-SF 2

Singles – Gromet (U) d. Han 6-4, 6-7 (4) (7); Ma (M) d. Kuo 6-1, 6-3; Huang (M) d. Dijawan 6-3, 5-7 (8); Kumar (M) d. Devans 1-6, 7-5 (7).

Doubles – De Datta-Engel (M) d. Lian-Boan 6-2, 6-4; Lipeles-Temsamani (M) d. Rosenman-Chu 6-1, 6-1; Kumar-Pejavar (U) d. Derek Jain-Arjun Saluja 2-6, 7-5, 10-8

Menlo 6, Amador Valley 1

Singles – Han (M) d. Patil 6-2, 6-0; Ma (M) d. Jia 6-2, 6-1; Huang (M) d. Sharma 6-0, 6-0; De Datta (M) d A. Kim 6-1, 6-0.

Doubles – Parkinson-Lebold (AV) d. Temsamani-Lipeles 6-2 6-7 (5) (6); Sam Engel-Kavan Kumar (M) d. M. Kim-Dean 6-3, 6-2; James Park-Nikhil Kothari d. Fu-Bahl 6-1, 6-0

Menlo 7, Bishop O’ Dowd 0

Singles – Huang d. Chai 4-6, 6-1 (4); De Datta d. Liao 6-2, 6-1; Engel d. Hamilton 6-1, 6-2; Kumar d. Hoffman 6-2, 6-1