CLAREMONT, CA --Â Nicholas Chen took the court today at the NCAA Division III Singles Championship with one thing on his mind: compete. And compete he did: twice in one day, no less.
In the Round of 32, Chen faced Emory's Efe Comu and came out focused and sharp. He struck early, kept the pressure on, and played a disciplined match from start to finish. Despite some late resistance from Comu, Chen stayed steady and closed it out 6-4, 7-5, his first NCAA singles win and one that definitely earned him a second Luna bar.
A few hours later, it was déjà vu: back on court, this time against Amherst's Andreas Sillaste in a rematch from March. Their first meeting went three sets. This one didn't, but it was no less competitive. Chen fought tooth and nail, pushing the first set to a tiebreak before falling 7-6(2). The second was just as tight. Chen had a 5-4 lead and was two points away from forcing a third, but Sillaste raised his level and took it 7-5.
The loss ends Chen's run in the Round of 16, but not without reward. His performance today earned him All-American status, a reflection of how far he's come this season.
Eph head coach Dan Greenberg said: "Nick showed incredible composure and competitiveness out there today. From the first point against Comu, he looked locked in and ready to fight. Even in the second match, against one of the top players in the nation, he was right there in every moment."
Assistant coach Andrew Dorr added: "This was a great cap to Nick's junior year. He's been building toward this level of play all season. The way he competed today, gritty, fearless, and focused, is exactly what we hope for from our guys."
With one more year to go, Chen heads into the offseason as an All-American, battle-tested, and hungry for more. The Ephs will also turn the page toward next season, knowing they've got a leader who's proven he can hang with the best in the country.
