Harper, Korsgaard advance in doubles at ITA All-American

Tech duo will compete to move into main draw

October 2, 2017

TULSA, Okla. – Virginia Tech’s 31st-ranked duo of Mitch Harper and Henrik Korsgaard picked up wins in the first two rounds of doubles on Monday at the 2017 ITA Men’s Tennis All-American in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The pair faced off against Nebraska’s Razyan Grigorescu and Abdoul Ouattara in the opening round, falling in the first set 2-6 before rallying to take the second 6-3. Harper and Korsgaard came back strong in the super tiebreak to win it 10-4.

In the second round, Harper and Korsgaard downed Charlotte’s Constandinos Christoforou and Ben Waynd, picking up the 6-3 win in the first set, but fell 3-6 in the second. The Hokies’ tandem again powered back in the supertiebreak to win it 10-3.

Harper and Korsgaard also had hard-fought singles matches on Monday. Harper, ranked No. 122, battled Arizona State’s Michael Geerts. After taking the first set 6-2, Harper faltered in the second by the same margin. In the final set, Harper fell behind 3-0, but rallied to close it to 5-4. Needing the break, Harper tied it up at 5-5 and again at 6-6. The two went into a tiebreak where Geerts held on to win it 7-4.

Tech’s No. 123 Korsgaard took Tulane’s 77th-ranked Ewan Moore to three sets in the first round. Moore won the first 6-1, but Korsgaard rallied to win the second 7-5 before Moore secured the win 6-2, in the third.

The Hokies will return to the court on Tuesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, playing for a spot in the main draw of doubles.

Singles Qualifying Draw
Michael Geerts (AZ State) def. #122 Mitch Harper (VT) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(4)
#77 Ewan Moore (Tulane) def. #123 Henrik Korsgaard (VT) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
#80 Aleks Kovacevic (Ill.) def. Alex Ribeiro (VT) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles Qualifying Draw
#31 Harper/Korsgaard (VT) def. Razvan Grigorescu/Abdoul Ouattara (Neb) 2-6, 6-3, 10-4
#31 Harper/Korsgaard (VT) def. Constandinos Christoforou/Ben Wayand (Char) 6-3, 3-6, 10-3

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