Myneni Named ITA Southeast Region Player to Watch
5/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
May 11, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Junior Saketh Myneni's list of accolades just got a bit longer as he was named the Southeast Region Player to Watch by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Monday. Myneni, and the other seven region winners, form the pool in which the ITA National Player to Watch will be selected from. That award will be announced later this month.
"This is another great honor for Saketh," said head coach Billy Pate. "Undoubtedly, he is still improving and getting better each day, so it's very appropriate he is recognized as a player who could breakthrough even more next year."
Myneni is a 2009 All-SEC First Team selection finishing the regular dual-match season with a singles record of 15-7 and 17-8 mark in doubles. He is currently ranked 22nd in the nation in singles and reached as high as No. 14 on the doubles charts with senior partner Billy Mertz. This season alone Myneni has defeated 10 nationally ranked opponents including three ranked in the top 10. Fourteen of his 15 dual-match wins have come in straight sets, and he is tied for the best singles record against an SEC opponent at 7-4. Compared to last season, Myneni has nearly doubled his win total at No. 1 singles from last season posting a 13-7 record to this point.
He was honored with the 2009 Blue Gray National Collegiate Tennis Classic Sportsmanship Award, received SEC Player of the Week recognition on April 20 and was named Alabama's Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player at the team's award ceremony.
"Winning the award for our region may be the toughest," added Pate. "He should be an excellent candidate for the national award."
Players Mentioned
