The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championship
Whitehead wins USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championship
10.23.2012 | Men's Tennis
Oct. 23, 2012
FORT WORTH, Texas - Senior Daniel Whitehead defeated Baylor's Julian Lenz to win the singles draw title of the USTA/ITA Texas Regional on Tuesday at TCU's Friedman Tennis Center.
With his sixth singles victory in the last four days, Whitehead becomes one of 32 players to advance to the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Championships in New York.
"It's really difficult to win this tournament, you have to do a lot in a very short amount of time," head coach Michael Center said. "The physical and emotional toll of it becomes a big factor. Daniel managed himself in these matches really well."
The Sugar Land, Texas native is the first Longhorn to win the USTA/ITA Texas Regional singles title since Ed Corrie in 2009.
"This tournament takes a physical and emotional toll on you in a short amount of time," Whitehead said. "I think I've learned over the last few years how to manage my body to be persistent and relentless no matter what is going on in the match. That paid off this week."
In the finals on Tuesday, Whitehead defeated Lenz 6-4 in each of the two sets. But down 3-4 in the first set and facing break point, Whitehead was able hold serve to swing momentum and rally to win the next three points.
"Sticking with it during that point and managing to swing the momentum was a big turning point in this match," Whitehead said. "In the second set I was able to keep pressure on him throughout to my advantage."
The USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Championships are Nov. 8-10 at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y.
USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championships
Fort Worth, Texas | Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center
Results - Tuesday, Oct. 23
Singles
Final
#3 Daniel Whitehead (Texas) def. Julian Lenz (Baylor) - 6-4, 6-4
