The No. 7 North Carolina men’s tennis team pushed through frustration Sunday against No. 5 Oklahoma, as UNC rallied from an early 2-0 deficit for a 4-3 win.
The Tar Heels and Sooners each snatched 6-4 victories to open the doubles matches. But In the final doubles match, with the all-important first team point on the line, the No. 1 doubles team in the country — the tandem of senior Brett Clark and sophomore Robert Kelly — lost after Clark’s serve was broken. North Carolina found itself down 1-0.
With the crucial first team point secured, Oklahoma needed only three singles victories to earn the win.
Each team captured two straight-set singles wins, leaving Oklahoma with a 3-2 team lead. Again, the Tar Heels needed wins from both Kelly and Clark to secure the victory.
But this time, they came through.
Kelly won the first set 7-5, but the sophomore dropped the second 4-6. Kelly’s opponent engaged himself with the crowd, and Kelly gained the mental advantage. He would go on to win the deciding third set, 6-3.
Clark also split his first two sets. By the time his set started, all other matches were complete. Clark knew he had the opportunity to end the competition with a win — and he did.
With all eyes on him, he earned two breaks on his way to a 6-2 win and the deciding victory for his team.
