KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The sixth-ranked Tennessee men’s tennis team entered the win column in its 2024 season opener with a 7-0 sweep over Furman on Friday afternoon at Goodfriend Tennis Center.
In his first dual action as a Vol, Chris Li clinched the match for Tennessee with a 6-0, 6-2 straight-set victory over Emil Westling on court four.
Tennessee (1-0) won the doubles point with wins on courts three and one. Johannus Monday and Younes Lalami took down Furman’s (0-1) Cole Burnam and Leonardo Dal Boni, 6-1 at the No. 3 spot. On court one, Shunsuke Mitsui and Filip Pieczonka defeated the Paladins’ Thomas Kennedy and Elijah Portizky by a score of 6-4.
Pieczonka gave UT a 2-0 lead, taking a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Furman’s John Rado, winning 72 percent of his total return points in the process. Filip Apltauer quickly followed with a 6-3, 6-0 decision over the Paladins’ Walker Allen on court six.
No. 20 Johannus Monday overcame Poritzky 6-4, 6-3 atop the lineup. Tennessee’s 6-0 advantage came from No. 33 Shunsuke Mitsui’s 7-5, 6-2 decision over Dal Boni. Younes Lalami rounded out the Big Orange sweep with a hard-fought 7-6(6), 6-4 win over Kennedy.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Four newcomers on Tennessee’s 2024 squad debuted in the singles lineup against the Paladins – Younes Lalami, Chris Li, Filip Pieczonka and Filip Apltauer – all defeating their opponents in straight sets to start the season with a 1-0 singles record.
UP NEXT
Tennessee will face Penn (11 a.m. ET) and Tennessee Tech (3 a.m. ET) in a doubleheader on Jan. 13.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. #34 Shunsuke Mitsui/Filip Pieczonka (UT) def. Thomas Kennedy/Elijah Portizky (FU) 6-4
2. Angel Diaz/Chris Li (UT) vs. Ben Cahill/Emil Westling (FU) 5-4, unfinished
3. Younes Lalami/Johannus Monday (UT) def. Cole Burnam/Leonardo Dal Boni (FU) 6-1
Order of Finish: (3,1)
Singles
1. #20 Johannus Monday (UT) def. Elijah Portizky (FU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Younes Lalami (UT) def. Thomas Kennedy (FU) 7-6(6), 6-4
3. #33 Shunsuke Mitsui (UT) def. Leonardo Dal Boni (FU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Chris Li (UT) def. Emil Westling (FU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Filip Pieczonka (UT) def. John Rado (FU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Filip Apltauer (UT) def. Walker Allen (FU) 6-3, 6-0
Order of Finish: (5,6,4,1,3,2)
For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee men’s tennis on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
In his first dual action as a Vol, Chris Li clinched the match for Tennessee with a 6-0, 6-2 straight-set victory over Emil Westling on court four.
Tennessee (1-0) won the doubles point with wins on courts three and one. Johannus Monday and Younes Lalami took down Furman’s (0-1) Cole Burnam and Leonardo Dal Boni, 6-1 at the No. 3 spot. On court one, Shunsuke Mitsui and Filip Pieczonka defeated the Paladins’ Thomas Kennedy and Elijah Portizky by a score of 6-4.
Pieczonka gave UT a 2-0 lead, taking a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Furman’s John Rado, winning 72 percent of his total return points in the process. Filip Apltauer quickly followed with a 6-3, 6-0 decision over the Paladins’ Walker Allen on court six.
No. 20 Johannus Monday overcame Poritzky 6-4, 6-3 atop the lineup. Tennessee’s 6-0 advantage came from No. 33 Shunsuke Mitsui’s 7-5, 6-2 decision over Dal Boni. Younes Lalami rounded out the Big Orange sweep with a hard-fought 7-6(6), 6-4 win over Kennedy.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Four newcomers on Tennessee’s 2024 squad debuted in the singles lineup against the Paladins – Younes Lalami, Chris Li, Filip Pieczonka and Filip Apltauer – all defeating their opponents in straight sets to start the season with a 1-0 singles record.
UP NEXT
Tennessee will face Penn (11 a.m. ET) and Tennessee Tech (3 a.m. ET) in a doubleheader on Jan. 13.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. #34 Shunsuke Mitsui/Filip Pieczonka (UT) def. Thomas Kennedy/Elijah Portizky (FU) 6-4
2. Angel Diaz/Chris Li (UT) vs. Ben Cahill/Emil Westling (FU) 5-4, unfinished
3. Younes Lalami/Johannus Monday (UT) def. Cole Burnam/Leonardo Dal Boni (FU) 6-1
Order of Finish: (3,1)
Singles
1. #20 Johannus Monday (UT) def. Elijah Portizky (FU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Younes Lalami (UT) def. Thomas Kennedy (FU) 7-6(6), 6-4
3. #33 Shunsuke Mitsui (UT) def. Leonardo Dal Boni (FU) 7-5, 6-2
4. Chris Li (UT) def. Emil Westling (FU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Filip Pieczonka (UT) def. John Rado (FU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Filip Apltauer (UT) def. Walker Allen (FU) 6-3, 6-0
Order of Finish: (5,6,4,1,3,2)
For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee men’s tennis on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Tennessee Athletics…