Hernandez Tong Faces Top Ranked Players at ITA All-American Championships

ITA Men’s AA Main Draw
ITA Men’s Consolation Draw

TULSA, Okla. — The University of New Mexico’s Ricky Hernandez Tong came face to face with some of the best teams and players in the nation while competing at the ITA All-American Championships this past week.

After qualifying for the singles main draw on Tuesday, Oct. 3, Hernandez Tong was set to face No. 38 Victor Pham of Columbia University on Thursday, Oct. 5. He fell to Pham 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the main draw and was placed in the singles consolation draw on Friday, Oct. 6.

In the first round of the consolation draw, he battled No. 110 Kyle Seelig of Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 6 and posted a 6-3 win over Seelig in the first set. Seeling came back and won the following two sets 6-3, 6-4. 

“It was great to see Ricky compete against the best players in the country,” assistant coach Robin Goodman said. “His leadership skills have really stood out this semester and I cannot wait to see him continue his success in the spring season. He is clearly developing his game quickly and this tournament was invaluable for him and for the rest of our team.”

The Lobos will play one last tournament to wrap up the fall season Oct. 18-21 in Provo, Utah at the ITA Mountain Regional Championships. Details on the event will be available here in the upcoming weeks:

http://www.itatennis.com/Events/ITA_Regional_Championships_Presented_By_Oracle.htm