CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois junior Kenta Miyoshi will represent the Orange and Blue on the national stage at the NCAA Singles Championship in Waco, Texas, from Nov. 19-24. Miyoshi will make his NCAA Individual Championships debut after the competition moved from the spring to the fall for the first time.
Miyoshi qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship after advancing to the singles main draw final at the ITA Midwest Regional on Oct. 14 in East Lansing, Michigan. The Kawasaki, Japan, native picked up two ranked triumphs at the competition, progressing through the 64-player bracket to the final via six consecutive wins.
Holding a 10-4 singles record thus far this fall, Miyoshi is one of eight Big Ten student-athletes who will play in the 64-player NCAA Singles Championship draw.
Miyoshi began the fall by winning the singles consolation bracket at Battle in the Bay, which featured a run of four straight victories over ranked opposition. He then went 1-2 at the ITA All-American Championships before bouncing back with five triumphs – and a berth into the NCAA Singles Championship – at the ITA Midwest Regional.
Across Miyoshi’s 10 singles wins thus far during the Illini’s fall slate, seven have come against a ranked foe, while 10 of his 14 singles matches this fall featured a ranked opponent.
Only one Illinois men’s tennis player has won the NCAA singles title in the program’s history, a feat that Amer Delic achieved in 2003.
The 64-player field features players who qualified via four different routes: the ITA All-American Championships, ITA Regionals, ITA Sectionals, and ITA Conference Masters.
Miyoshi will begin his tournament on Tuesday against #77 Jack Loutit of Kentucky.
This tournament concludes the Orange and Blue’s busy fall schedule, with the Illini returning to action in January at the Thunderbird Invite in Arizona. The remainder of Illinois’ spring slate will be announced at a later date.
Miyoshi’s Path to Waco
Miyoshi qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship following his run to the singles main draw final at the ITA Midwest Regional.
- Round of 64: Miyoshi def. Alex Fuchs (Ohio State), 6-4, 6-4
- Round of 32: Miyoshi def. David Saye (Michigan State), 6-0, 6-0
- Round of 16: Miyoshi def. Alex Cairo (Michigan), 6-1, 6-2
- Quarterfinals: Miyoshi def. No. 4-seeded and No….
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Illinois Athletics…