Richard Hu
Timofey Stepanov (left) and Jonathan Irwanto (right) won twice Saturday to reach Sunday morning’s semifinals.
LA JOLLA – Two California men’s tennis doubles teams advanced to the quarterfinals of the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship on Saturday, but only one survived to play in Sunday’s semifinals at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
Playing in the consolation draw, Cal’s 17th-seeded Jonathan Irwanto and Timofey Stepanov defeated Villanova’s 17th-seeded Josh Robinson and Thomas Wakefield, 6-4, 6-2, in the round of 16, before winning again in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, over USC’s ninth-seeded Peter Makk and Lodewijk Weststrate in the quarterfinals. The Golden Bear freshmen will face Caleb Settles and Christian Settles in the consolation semifinals Sunday at 9 a.m. PT.
Cal’s second-seeded Alex Chang and sophomore Qian Sun bested San Diego’s 17th-seeded Blake Kasday and Nikhil Niranjin, 6-4, 6-2, in the main draw round of 16. But the new Cal duo – playing in just their fourth match together – fell to UCLA’s Emon van Loben Sels and Spencer Johnson in the quarterfinals, 7-6(5), 6-3.
Along with the Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship, the Bears’ Sunday includes a dual match at UC San Diego at 3 p.m. PT.
Pacific Coast Men’s Doubles Championship – Cal Results
March 2, 2024, in La Jolla, Calif.
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
Main Draw
Round of 16
[2] Alex Chang/Qian Sun (Cal) def. [17] Blake Kasday/Nikhil Niranjin (USD), 6-4, 6-2
Quarterfinal Round
Emon van Loben Sels/Spencer Johnson (UCLA) def. [2] Alex Chang/Qian Sun (Cal), 7-6(5), 6-3
Consolation Draw
Round of 16
Jonathan Irwanto/Timofey Stepanov (Cal) def. [17] Josh Robinson/Thomas Wakefield (Villanova), 6-4, 6-2
Quarterfinal Round
Jonathan Irwanto/Timofey Stepanov (Cal) def. [9] Peter Makk/Lodewijk Weststrate (USC), 6-2, 6-2
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