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Mackenzie McDonald UCLA men's tennis
Photo by: UCLA Athletics

McDonald Advances to Final Four

May 28, 2016 | Men's Tennis

By: UCLA Athletics

TULSA, Okla. – Sixth-ranked Mackenzie McDonald continues his quest for the NCAA singles title when he faces No. 14 Joao Monteiro (Virginia Tech) in the semifinals on Sunday, May 29.  The UCLA junior earned his spot in the final four with a straight-set win over second-ranked Roberto Cid of South Florida on Saturday afternoon. 

"I thought I played a pretty good match," said McDonald of the win.  "I had a little bit of a slow start, but then I cruised from there.  I won nine straight games so I definitely got my game together.  I'm happy with the results."  

McDonald trailed Cid early in the first set.  The Bruin then won eight straight points to take a 4-3 lead.  McDonald broke again and had the opportunity to serve for the first set.  Cid's return was long on set point, and McDonald registered the 6-3 win.

Continuing this momentum in the second set, McDonald jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage.  The opponents traded holds to put McDonald up 4-1.  McDonald then held at love to inch closer to victory and a spot in the final four.  Cid held to cut the deficit to 5-2, but McDonald sealed the deal on a service winner to take the match, 6-3, 6-2. 

In doubles play, the second-ranked pair of McDonald and Martin Redlicki edged No. 10 Julian Cash and Arjun Kadhe of Oklahoma State.  It was a back-and-forth battle in the first set as both pairs traded breaks and holds.  McDonald held to knot the score at 6-6 and send the set into a tiebreaker.  The Bruins edged the Cowboys in the breaker to take the set, 7-6(4). 

The second set was more of the same.  At 5-4, the Bruins had the opportunity to put it away at love, but the Cowboy duo fought back to register the equalizer.  McDonald and Redlicki held and then broke Cash and Kadhe to punch their ticket to the final four.

"Julian and Arjun are great players," said Redlicki.  "They've had a really great season.  Getting a win over anyone in this tournament is a really big deal, especially in the quarters to make it to the semis.  But over a tough opponent like them, it's just really special."

"I think we're good enough to know that if we execute our game, we have a pretty good chance against just about anybody," said McDonald of their performance in the tournament.  "Just trying not to let the moment get to you too much, and just trying to stay the course.  We have to focus on our game more than anything, and just focus on executing.  If we can do that, I think we're looking pretty good."

The semifinals of the singles and doubles championships take place Sunday, May 29, at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa.  Live streaming/scoring is available here.

2016 NCAA Singles & Doubles Championship
May 25-30 
Tulsa, Oklahoma (Michael D. Case Tennis Center)

Singles 
Round of 64
No. 6 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) def. No. 42 Ryotaro Matasamura (Kentucky) 6-0, 6-2
No. 38 Martin Redlicki (UCLA) def. No. 50 Gergely Madarasz (Purdue), 6-2, 7-6(3)
Round of 32
No. 6 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) def. No. 35 Quentin Monaghan (Notre Dame), 6-4, 6-1
No. 3 Dominik Koepfer (Tulane) def. No. 38 Martin Redlicki (UCLA), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
Round of 16
No. 6 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) def. No. 13 Skander Mansouri (Wake Forest), 6-1, 6-2 
Quarterfinals
No. 6 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) def. No. 2 Roberto Cid (South Florida), 6-3, 6-2

Doubles
Round of 32
No. 2 McDonald/Redlicki (UCLA) def. No. 16 Kwiatkowski/Styslinger (UVA), 6-2, 7-6(3)
Round of 16
No. 2 McDonald/Redlicki (UCLA) def. No. 20 Schipanski/ Valero (Tenn), 6-3, 6-3
Quarterfinals
No. 2 McDonald/Redlicki (UCLA) def. No. 10 Cash/Kadhe (Oklahoma State), 7-6(4), 7-5