May 28, 2007

ATHENS, Ga. - Cavalier junior Somdev Devvarman (Chennai, India) became the first men's tennis player in ACC history to win an NCAA Singles Championship, downing Georgia's John Isner in the final Monday night at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. In one of the most dramatic finals in the 123-year history of the tournament, Devvarman scored a 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (2) win over the tournament's No. 1 seed.

The first set was indicative of how close the match would be. Both second-seeded Devvarman and top-seeded Isner held in each of their six service games, with neither losing any more than two points in any game. With the first set on the line, Devvarman opened up an early 3-1 lead in the tiebreaker. Isner rallied to draw even, tying the breaker at 4-4. Devvarman won the next two points, to earn two set points. However, Isner would win the next three points to take a 7-6 lead and earn his own set point. Devvarman won the next two points on his serve to take an 8-7 lead for his third set point. Up 8-7, Devvarman took advantage of a second serve from Isner and hit a return winner past the Bulldog to take the opening set.

The second set began much like the first, with neither player in danger of losing his serve in the first six games. Serving at 3-3, Devvarman was broken by Isner, who took advantage of the first break point of the match to go up 4-3. The players held serve for the remainder of the set, as Isner forced a third and deciding set by taking the second, 6-4.

The final set featured more of the same from both players, as neither player could even force a deuce on the other's serve. With the final set tied at 6-6, the national championship came down to a tiebreaker. At 1-1 in the tiebreaker, Devvarman made a difficult return of a big Isner serve that caught the Georgia player off guard as he returned it into the net. Devvarman used that momentum to win the next three points, to take a 5-1 lead at the changeover. After an Isner ace brought him to 5-2, Devvarman won the following point to give him four championship points at 6-2. On the first of those points, as he hit an ace up the middle to close out the 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (2) win.

The win was Devvarman's 44th singles win of the season, extending his school record for wins in a season. The victory was also his career-high 16th consecutive win.

Devvarman is one of ten players on this season's Cavalier team with eligibility remaining for next year. This season, the Cavaliers went 30-4, reached the NCAA semifinals for the first time in school history and finished the year with a school record No. 2 final ranking.