ATHENS, Ga. — LSU’s 12th-ranked singles player, Ajay Ramaswami, and the Tigers’ No. 33 ranked doubles combination of Dan Kiernan and Sebastian Rutka fell in the round of 16 on Saturday at the famed Dan Magill Tennis Complex here in Athens, Ga.
Ramaswami closed out his illustrious two-year career as a Fighting Tiger early Saturday morning, as the All-America senior from Mumbai, India, was defeated by Pepperdine’s Al Garland, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA singles championships. Ramaswami finished his phenomenal senior season with an overall record of 29-15.
After recording the hard-fought three-set victory over Ramaswami, the 21st-ranked Garland advanced to the quarterfinal round of competition where he knocked off Tulane’s No. 34 Michael Kogan, 7-5, 6-4. Garland is scheduled to face Brian Vahaly of Virginia in the semifinal round on Sunday.
In the NCAA doubles championships, the Tigers’ tandem of Kiernan and Rutka was also defeated in the round of 16. Southern Methodist’s third-ranked combination comprised of Jon Wallmark and Johan Brunstrom proved to be too tough for the Tigers as the Mustang duo earned a 6-1, 7-6(5), victory.
With the loss, LSU’s No. 1 doubles team concluded the 2001 season with an overall record of 22-6. Wallmark and Brunstrom advanced to the quarterfinal round of the doubles competition where they will face Virginia Commonwealth’s tandem of Florian Marquardt and Frank Moser on Sunday.
The 2001 NCAA Championships will continue on Sunday with the semifinal round of singles play and the quarterfinal round of doubles play at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.