WACO, Texas – Illinois junior Kenta Miyoshi made his first-ever appearance at the NCAA Singles Championship, representing the Fighting Illini men’s tennis program at the event. Baylor’s Hurd Tennis Center served as the host site for the NCAA Individual Championships from Nov. 19-24.
First Round: #42 Miyoshi (Illinois) def. #77 Jack Loutit (Kentucky)
After serving first, Miyoshi broke Loutit’s serve in the second game of the first set, giving the Japan native an early 2-0 edge. The Wildcat sophomore broke right back, and the opening set went back and forth until Miyoshi broke Loutit’s serve in the eighth game to establish a 5-3 advantage. Miyoshi closed out the set from the service line, claiming the opening frame, 6-3.
Loutit took the first game of the second set, but Miyoshi responded by winning the next three games to take a 3-1 lead in the frame, a stretch that included Miyoshi’s third break point of the match. With both players holding serve the rest of the way, Miyoshi’s break point in the third game proved to be the difference in his 6-4 second-set victory.
Miyoshi’s 6-3, 6-4 victory saw him progress to the second round against No. 6-ranked Radu Papoe of Cornell on Wednesday.
Results
First Round (Nov. 19): #42 Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois) def. #77 Jack Loutit (Kentucky), 6-3, 6-4
Second Round (Nov. 20): #42 Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois) vs. #6 Radu Papoe (Cornell)
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