Idaho tennis doubles team Marius Cirstea and Andrew Dobbs fell short in the Indoor National Championship Nov. 3 and 4, losing two matches against top-10 teams in the nation.
The duo had already made Idaho history by advancing to the championships. Idaho Director of Tennis Jeff Beaman said this tournament was a good experience for the pairing.
“You learn from the experience and I think that both of these guys realize that just a few points going the other way or just a little more focus and they are winning,” Beaman said.
The duo lost 8-4 in round one to No. 9 Maros Horny and John Collins of Maryland. Then they lost 8-3 to No. 7 Mississippi State’s Louis Cant and Malte Stropp in the consolation round.
Cirstea and Dobbs did not start strong enough Beaman said, but they can perform at the same level as top teams on the right day.
“At the regionals they did a good job at starting the point, and here they just weren’t scoring enough first points and sending in second serves that the other team can tee off on, that’s not when we are going to be successful,” Beaman said.
Dobbs said a win would have been nice, but the experience was amazing.
“It was a little disappointing that we didn’t come out and play the best we could but it was great to see top level competition and moving forward we can see what these guys are doing and go back and work on what we have to do,” Dobbs said.
He said the environment at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is something he will never forget.
“There is just a different kind of feeling in the air that it’s the top guys in the country,” Dobbs said. “You have to bring your best if you’re going to win and I think everybody can feel that in the air.”
He said they came prepared but did not play to their potential.
“We just came out and fired off a little slow and put ourselves in bad positions where we were behind and in eight-game pro sets it’s hard to come back,” Dobbs said.
Beaman said he was not surprised by the tough draw the duo faced.
“Every team here is just really good and you honestly, with the 20 best teams in the country, expect to face a team that’s even top five in the nation in the first round,” Beaman said.
He said he is excited to see where the doubles team ranks after the fall season. With two victories over top-50 teams, Beaman thinks the chances of being a top-30 team are good.
Dobbs said he learned a lot from playing and watching other teams at the tournament and knows what he will do differently.
“I would say just being more consistent and being in your point and not giving away free points and giving yourself a chance to win the point and not springing the ball into the net or out of the court,” Dobbs said. “You have to give your chance to win the point and build on your consistencies throughout the match.”