TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Following five straight victories to punch their ticket into the ITA Southern Regional Doubles Championship match, the Ole Miss men’s tennis duo of John Hallquist Lithen and Simon Junk ended their run as tournament runners-up in Tuscaloosa.
Lithen and Junk got off to a hot start, taking the opening set 6-3 against their LSU foes of Latinovic/Watson. A battle through set two saw the Tiger duo swing back with a 6-4 set victory, sending the match to a title-deciding tiebreaker.
Despite leaving it all on the court, Lithen and Junk ultimately came up short of winning the regional title with Latinovic/Watson claiming a 10-5 tiebreak win to take the doubles crown.
“I felt that we found a better level for each match we played and the final was really close for us,” said Lithen. “We came back from a set down and break down, but we knew that the momentum could shift at any second with there being so many tight games.”
“Unfortunately they played a very solid tiebreak against us, but overall it was a fun experience.”
With their runner-up finish in Tuscaloosa, Lithen and Junk have now earned automatic bids into the ITA National Fall Championships in San Diego next month. The Rebel pairing will be one of the 26 automatic entries into the tournament, with each region’s doubles champions and runners-up receiving a spot in the Fall Nationals bracket as well as the ITA All-American champions and runners-up receiving bids.
The Rebels’ fall season will conclude with the playing of the ITA National Fall Championships in San Diego (Nov. 2-6) and the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta (Nov. 4-6).
For more information on Ole Miss Men’s Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMTennis, on Facebook at OleMissMTennis and on Instagram at OleMissMTennis, follow Coach Hansson on Twitter at @TennisToby.
Tuesday Results
Doubles
Latinovic/Watson (LSU) def. John Hallquist Lithen/Simon Junk 3-6, 6-4, 1-0(5)
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