TEMPE, Ariz. – With the beginning of the fall season upon Sun Devil men's tennis, the men had a highly successful summer slate highlighted by two individual titles and two doubles titles from a current Sun Devil and a Sun Devil for Life. Check out the numbers from the Sun Devils' summer below, along with what to look forward to heading into the fall.
4 – Professional Titles won by Sun Devils
Nathan Ponwith took home his first singles title since 2016 in his first tournament of the summer, the Fletcher Financial Open in Illinois. The Scottsdale-native defeated Strong Kirchheimer, who currently holds a No. 186 ranking in singles with a career-high of No. 153. Ponwith added another win in tandem with Liam Caruana at the Edwardsville Futures. He also competed to the finals in the singles bracket of that same event, but was eventually edged by Petros Chrysochos, the 2018 NCAA Singles National Champion and four-time All-American.
Newly minted Sun Devil for Life Justin Roberts took home the first professional wins of his career as well, winning a singles and doubles in July. Roberts played in tandem with Jody Maginley at the Cancun Tennis Cup, defeating Eric Hadigian/Tanner Smith in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 to win it all. Roberts won the singles title at the same tournament a week after his doubles title, defeating No. 54 in the ITF World Tennis Singles Ranking and No. 507 by the ATP Jack Draper in the semifinals and Kalman Boyd in the final round to kick off his professional career on a high note.
466 – ITF Points Earned by the 2019 Roster Over the Summer, Most in the Pac-12
That mark is the most among Pac-12 schools by a large margin, with USC in second place with 252. Ponwith raked in 210 points, while Andrea Bolla contributed 82 points of his own, most notably fighting into the semifinal of the Wetzlar Open in Germany. Roberts himself added 174 spearheaded by his singles title.
210 – ITF Points Earned By Nathan Ponwith, Most in the Pac-12
Not only was Ponwith's point total the highest by an individual in the conference, it was also more points than six entire teams had earned.
5 – Returnees from Last Season
Six Sun Devils are set to return to the courts at the Whiteman Tennis Center in 2020 in Andrea Bolla, William Kirkman, Nathan Ponwith, Makey Rakotomalala and Tim Ruehl.
2 – Incoming Seniors, the Largest Class Since Reinstatement
Rakotomalala and Ponwith are incoming seniors this season who are looking to provide valuable knowledge to another young Sun Devil team. Ponwith grew up a Sun Devil fan in Scottsdale while Rakotomalala has been with the program since its reinstatement in 2015.
2 – New Faces
Christian Lerby and Jonah Wilson are the new faces on campus for men's tennis, set to make their freshman debut in 2020. Lerby is a Netherlands native with a few ITF pro points already under his belt and two ITF wins. He also holds a 72-50 record in singles and 42-52 record in doubles on the junior circuit.
Wilson also has a couple pro tournaments under his belt, playing in the Westward Look Pro Tennis Classic in January and February in Tucson. He holds a 9-11 record in singles and 7-11 record in doubles on the junior circuit.
4 – Professional Titles won by Sun Devils
Nathan Ponwith took home his first singles title since 2016 in his first tournament of the summer, the Fletcher Financial Open in Illinois. The Scottsdale-native defeated Strong Kirchheimer, who currently holds a No. 186 ranking in singles with a career-high of No. 153. Ponwith added another win in tandem with Liam Caruana at the Edwardsville Futures. He also competed to the finals in the singles bracket of that same event, but was eventually edged by Petros Chrysochos, the 2018 NCAA Singles National Champion and four-time All-American.
Newly minted Sun Devil for Life Justin Roberts took home the first professional wins of his career as well, winning a singles and doubles in July. Roberts played in tandem with Jody Maginley at the Cancun Tennis Cup, defeating Eric Hadigian/Tanner Smith in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 to win it all. Roberts won the singles title at the same tournament a week after his doubles title, defeating No. 54 in the ITF World Tennis Singles Ranking and No. 507 by the ATP Jack Draper in the semifinals and Kalman Boyd in the final round to kick off his professional career on a high note.
466 – ITF Points Earned by the 2019 Roster Over the Summer, Most in the Pac-12
That mark is the most among Pac-12 schools by a large margin, with USC in second place with 252. Ponwith raked in 210 points, while Andrea Bolla contributed 82 points of his own, most notably fighting into the semifinal of the Wetzlar Open in Germany. Roberts himself added 174 spearheaded by his singles title.
210 – ITF Points Earned By Nathan Ponwith, Most in the Pac-12
Not only was Ponwith's point total the highest by an individual in the conference, it was also more points than six entire teams had earned.
5 – Returnees from Last Season
Six Sun Devils are set to return to the courts at the Whiteman Tennis Center in 2020 in Andrea Bolla, William Kirkman, Nathan Ponwith, Makey Rakotomalala and Tim Ruehl.
2 – Incoming Seniors, the Largest Class Since Reinstatement
Rakotomalala and Ponwith are incoming seniors this season who are looking to provide valuable knowledge to another young Sun Devil team. Ponwith grew up a Sun Devil fan in Scottsdale while Rakotomalala has been with the program since its reinstatement in 2015.
2 – New Faces
Christian Lerby and Jonah Wilson are the new faces on campus for men's tennis, set to make their freshman debut in 2020. Lerby is a Netherlands native with a few ITF pro points already under his belt and two ITF wins. He also holds a 72-50 record in singles and 42-52 record in doubles on the junior circuit.
Wilson also has a couple pro tournaments under his belt, playing in the Westward Look Pro Tennis Classic in January and February in Tucson. He holds a 9-11 record in singles and 7-11 record in doubles on the junior circuit.