Carleton and Cunha Reach National Indoor Championship

WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Duke's Reid Carleton came from behind to defeat Texas A&M's Jeff Dadamo and Austin Krajicek in the semifinals of the ITA National Indoor Championships on Saturday in West Haven, Conn.

Carleton and Cunha were down a set and trailed 4-2 in the second set of a best of three match. The two Blue Devils battled their way to a 7-5 win in the second to force a third and deciding set. The final set came down to the wire as the two teams played a tiebreaker with Duke coming out on top 7-5 to advance to the national championship match.

"That was an amazing match, and one of the best efforts I have ever seen from a Duke team," said Duke head coach Ramsey Smith. "Reid and Henrique were down a set and 4-2 and Texas AM also served for the match at 6-5 in the third. Our boys hung in there, stayed positive, and just competed unbelievably well. I couldn't be prouder of Reid and Henrique. Tomorrow we have another challenge against an excellent Stanford team."
The win improves Carleton and Cunha's record to 17-2 on the season. They extended their winning streak to 11 straight matches.

Carleton and Cunha are only the second duo in school history to make the finals of a national championship tournament. The other Duke pair to make the finals was Dmitry Muzyka and Sven Koehler, who made the finals of the ITA All-American Championships in 1996. In the finals, they will take on No. 8 Bradley Klahn and Ryan Thacher of Stanford. The two Stanford players are the No. 3 seed in the tournament and won in straight sets in the semifinals 7-5, 6-1 against Tennessee's Boris Conkic and Rhyne Williams.

The championship match will take place tomorrow at 10 a.m. on the campus of Yale University.

Carleton and Cunha Reach National Indoor Championship

Players Mentioned

Reid Carleton

Duke information

Carleton and Cunha Reach National Indoor Championship

Players Mentioned

Reid Carleton

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Duke information