Courtesy of Nevada Athletics –
RENO, Nev. – Youssef Kadiri earned an NCAA Individual Championships Singles berth after defeating California’s Timofey Stepanov, 7-5, 6-7 (7), 6-0, in the quarterfinals at the ITA West Sectional Championships in Malibu, Calif.
Kadiri’s victory guarantees him a top six position at the ITA event, the final qualifying event for the NCAA Championships. Qualifying alongside Kadiri are Pepperdine’s Maxi Homberg and California’s Alex Chang and Theo Dean.
Kadiri’s run at the tournament began on Thursday with a victory over #92 Dzianis Zharyn of Washington, defeating the Husky. 7-6 (1), 6-4. In the round of 16, Kadiri defeated Pepperdine’s Chris Papa in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. His quarterfinal victory over Stepanov was the final victory needed for the clinched birth.
Kadiri is the first Nevada Men’s Tennis player to ever earn a berth to the NCAA Individual Championships.
The NCAA Individual Championships will be held at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. The championships begin November 19 and run through November 24. Draws for the championships will be released at 3 p.m. PT on November 16. The NCAA Championships will be streamed on ESPN+ with a Cracked Racquets CrossCourt Cast. Individual courts will be streamed on Playsight.
More information on the NCAA Individual Championships can be found HERE.
Kadiri returns to play at the ITA West Sectional Championships tomorrow. Kadiri and his doubles partner, Lucas Hammond, will match up against California’s Michael Wright and Alex Chang, tomorrow at 10 a.m. The third-place match is a winner-take-all match, with the victors earning a doubles berth at the NCAA Individual Championships. Wright and Chang are ranked 13th in DI by the ITA.
