Release courtesy of Swarthmore Athletic Communications

GRANVILLE, Ohio – The No. 9 Swarthmore College men's tennis team had a pair of retirements derail its chance at a national quarterfinals bid as the Garnet fell at No. 2 Denison University, 4-2, in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Big Red got out to a 1-0 lead by taking the doubles competition. Kai Chen got Swarthmore off to a good start in singles play with a victory to even the match. The teams split results at first and sixth singles and the score was even at two. Two of the final three matches were in decisive third sets but two Garnet players were forced to retire, giving Denison an anticlimactic win.
 
Swarthmore concludes its team schedule with a 16-7 record. The Garnet reached the final 16 for the second year in a row.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Big Red claimed the doubles point with a pair of 6-4 triumphs at the first and second positions, defeating the teams of Michael Melnikov/Utham Koduri and Andres Fente/Chen.
 
- Chen took the win at fifth singles, 6-3, 6-3, to bring Swarthmore level. Denison bested Aamish Pal at the sixth flight, 6-2, 6-3, to regain a one-point edge.
 
- Melnikov battled to a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 success at the top spot to tie the match at two apiece. Lalith Suresh dropped a tight opening set at third singles in a tiebreak, 6-7 (4-7). Suresh was in another fight in the second frame, trailing 3-4 when he was forced to retire and give the Big Red a 3-2 advantage.
 
- Rishi Verma also fell in an opening-set tiebreak at the fourth position but the sophomore bounced back with a 6-2 win in the second stanza. However, Verma also was forced to cease playing when he was down 2-3 in the final set, allowing Denison to clinch the match. Max Lindstrom's bout at second singles was about to enter a decisive set when play was halted.
 
UP NEXT
Melnikov and Koduri will represent the Garnet at the NCAA Individual Championships beginning on May 23.