TEMPE, Ariz. — Highlighting day three of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southwest Regionals, Pepperdine men's tennis players Linus Carlsson Halldin and Zach Stephens won both of their doubles matches to reach the quarterfinals on Saturday.
In their opening match, Carlsson Halldin and Stephens beat Andy Hernandez and Karl Collins of Hawai'i 8-2 before upsetting #150 Noah Zamora and Hiroki Sakagawa of UC Irvine 8-4 in the round of 16. Their victory over the Anteater duo is the Waves' first ranked win of the fall.
Carlsson Halldin and Stephens need to win three more matches at this tournament to earn an NCAA Doubles berth. They will face West Coast Conference rivals Stian Klaassen and Neo Niedner of San Diego tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Over in singles, Carlsson Halldin was the lone Wave to advance in the draw. In another all-WCC battle, Carlsson Halldin outlasted Niedner 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the round of 16. His opponent tomorrow has yet to be determined as of press time; his match begins tomorrow at 11 a.m. The senior captain from Stockholm, Sweden needs to win three more matches to earn an NCAA singles berth, as both finalists earn postseason bids at this tournament.
Elsewhere in doubles, Maxi Homberg and Chris Papa won their first match of the day — an 8-0 rout of UC Riverside's Justin Lamy and Aarav Sane — before falling in the round of 16.
RESULTS
Doubles Round of 32
Linus Carlsson Halldin/Zach Stephens (PEPP) def. Andy Hernandez/Karl Collins (HAWAII), 8-2
Maxi Homberg/Chris Papa (PEPP) def. Justin Lamy/Aarav Sane (UCR), 8-0
Doubles Round of 16
Linus Carlsson Halldin/Zach Stephens (PEPP) def. Noah Zamora/Hiroki Sakagawa (UCI), 8-4
Tristan Bradley/Karl Kazuma Lee (USC) def. Chris Papa/Maxi Homberg (PEPP), 8-4
Singles Matches
Round of 32
Linus Carlsson Halldin (PEPP) def. Neo Niedner (USD), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Azuma Visaya (HAWAII) def. #103 Maxi Homberg (PEPP), 7-6 (4), 6-3
Consolation Singles Matches
Matthias Uwe Kask (ARIZ) def. Chris Papa (PEPP), 7-6 (4), 6-2
Constantinos Koshis (ASU) def. Zach Stephens (PEPP), 6-2, retired
SUNDAY'S MATCHES
Doubles Quarterfinals
Linus Carlsson Halldin/Zach Stephens (PEPP) vs. Stian Klaassen/Neo Niedner (USD), 10 a.m.
Singles Round of 16
Linus Carlsson Halldin (PEPP) vs. TBA, 11 a.m.
