Photo by: Red Box Pictures
Jong Named Big 12 Player of the Week
2/22/2022 2:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Sander Jong earns his first Big 12 weekly honor
FORT WORTH – Junior Sander Jong has been named Big 12 Player of the Week; the conference office announced Tuesday. Jong led the Horned Frogs with six overall victories this weekend as the Horned Frogs won the 2022 ITA Team Indoor National Championship, in Seattle. Jong won both his doubles and singles matches in the quarterfinal, semifinal and final matches to help TCU claim its first-ever National Championship.
Jong showed his resolve and competitive spirit this weekend at Indoor Nationals, bouncing back from a difficult opening day in which he lost both of his matches in the Round of 16, to win all six of his matches the rest of the tournament, winning all but one set, to earn the national championship for TCU.
In the quarterfinals against No. 14 Texas, Jong clinched the doubles point, with his partner, Lui Maxted. The duo won the final four games of the match to collect a 6-3 victory, putting TCU in front, 1-0. In singles play, Jong got out of the gates quickly, winning four of the first five games in his opening set to cruise to a 6-3 first set, before battling his opponent (No. 75 Ciamarra) into a tiebreak in his second set, which he would win, 7-5. His victory put TCU in front, 3-0, allowing for Juan Carlos Aguilar to clinch the sweep just a few minutes later.
Jong was the hero in TCU's semifinal matchup against No. 1 Ohio State. The Amsterdam native made short work of the No. 2 ranked doubles team in the country (Trotter/Boulias) teaming up with Maxted to collect a 6-2 victory. The Frogs would clinch the doubles point on court one, giving TCU a 1-0 advantage in what would become the closest match of the tournament. In singles play, all five of the other matches had been decided in straight sets and the score was tied, 3-3, while Jong was beginning his second set tiebreak, in the lead (6-4, 6-6). After losing the tiebreak, Jong bounced back, delivering a dominant 6-0 third set to clinch the victory for himself and the Horned Frogs, securing a spot in the National Championship match the very next day. That second set tiebreak would be the only set that Jong lost in the final three rounds of the tournament.
In the finals, against No. 3-seed Tennessee, Jong showed no nerves. Staying calm and collected on his courts, delivering two more victories for the Frogs. In doubles play, he and Maxted secured the first break-of-serve for TCU, going in front, 4-2, on their way to a 6-3 victory. They were, again, the first court to finish, allowing for Luc Fomba and Jake Fearnley to clinch the doubles point on court one. In singles competition, Jong was his usual self, controlling points with his powerful serves, quick reactions and tremendous all-around tennis. He won the final four games of his opening set against No. 110 Emile Hudd, winning the set, 6-2. In the second, Jong stayed composed, absorbing an early break (2-4) to come from behind, again winning the final four games, to win the set, 6-4, and win the match in straight sets. His win came at the perfect time, putting TCU in front, 3-0, while Tennessee was trying to mount a rally on the other courts. The momentum gained from Jong spurred the Horned Frogs to a 4-1 win, thanks to Pedro Vives winning his match at No. 4, securing the first-ever national championship for TCU.
Up Next
Jong and the Horned Frogs will have some time off before opening the 2022 outdoor season, at home, against No. 20 Michigan on Wednesday, March 2, at 1 p.m. The matches are free to attend at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
For more information on TCU men's tennis, visit gofrogs.com and follow the team on social media: @TCUMensTennis on twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Jong showed his resolve and competitive spirit this weekend at Indoor Nationals, bouncing back from a difficult opening day in which he lost both of his matches in the Round of 16, to win all six of his matches the rest of the tournament, winning all but one set, to earn the national championship for TCU.
In the quarterfinals against No. 14 Texas, Jong clinched the doubles point, with his partner, Lui Maxted. The duo won the final four games of the match to collect a 6-3 victory, putting TCU in front, 1-0. In singles play, Jong got out of the gates quickly, winning four of the first five games in his opening set to cruise to a 6-3 first set, before battling his opponent (No. 75 Ciamarra) into a tiebreak in his second set, which he would win, 7-5. His victory put TCU in front, 3-0, allowing for Juan Carlos Aguilar to clinch the sweep just a few minutes later.
Jong was the hero in TCU's semifinal matchup against No. 1 Ohio State. The Amsterdam native made short work of the No. 2 ranked doubles team in the country (Trotter/Boulias) teaming up with Maxted to collect a 6-2 victory. The Frogs would clinch the doubles point on court one, giving TCU a 1-0 advantage in what would become the closest match of the tournament. In singles play, all five of the other matches had been decided in straight sets and the score was tied, 3-3, while Jong was beginning his second set tiebreak, in the lead (6-4, 6-6). After losing the tiebreak, Jong bounced back, delivering a dominant 6-0 third set to clinch the victory for himself and the Horned Frogs, securing a spot in the National Championship match the very next day. That second set tiebreak would be the only set that Jong lost in the final three rounds of the tournament.
In the finals, against No. 3-seed Tennessee, Jong showed no nerves. Staying calm and collected on his courts, delivering two more victories for the Frogs. In doubles play, he and Maxted secured the first break-of-serve for TCU, going in front, 4-2, on their way to a 6-3 victory. They were, again, the first court to finish, allowing for Luc Fomba and Jake Fearnley to clinch the doubles point on court one. In singles competition, Jong was his usual self, controlling points with his powerful serves, quick reactions and tremendous all-around tennis. He won the final four games of his opening set against No. 110 Emile Hudd, winning the set, 6-2. In the second, Jong stayed composed, absorbing an early break (2-4) to come from behind, again winning the final four games, to win the set, 6-4, and win the match in straight sets. His win came at the perfect time, putting TCU in front, 3-0, while Tennessee was trying to mount a rally on the other courts. The momentum gained from Jong spurred the Horned Frogs to a 4-1 win, thanks to Pedro Vives winning his match at No. 4, securing the first-ever national championship for TCU.
Up Next
Jong and the Horned Frogs will have some time off before opening the 2022 outdoor season, at home, against No. 20 Michigan on Wednesday, March 2, at 1 p.m. The matches are free to attend at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
For more information on TCU men's tennis, visit gofrogs.com and follow the team on social media: @TCUMensTennis on twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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