Alabama
NCAA Doubles National Championship
Incredible Run Ends as No. 11 Mazen Osama and Patrick Kaukovalta Fall in NCAA Doubles National Championship
5/25/2019 5:50:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Osama/Kaukovalta fell to No. 2 Maxim Cressy and Keegan Smith of UCLA, 6-3, 6-4
ORLANDO, Fla. – The incredible run through the NCAA Doubles Championships ended on Saturday as senior Mazen Osama and sophomore Patrick Kaukovalta finished as the national runner-up after falling to No. 2 Maxim Cressy and Keegan Smith of UCLA, 6-3, 6-4, in the 2019 NCAA Men's Tennis Doubles National Championship at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
The No. 11 pair in the country finished their season with a 19-8 record, while Cressy/Smith ended their year with a perfect 21-0 record. The championship appearance was the first in program history in any NCAA Championship, including singles, doubles and the team tournament.
"Super run from Mazen (Osama) and Patrick (Kaukovalta)," head coach George Husack stated. "Clapping of the racket to their opponents as they served big and bigger throughout the match. Slim margin went their way. Not a lot of players get an opportunity to play for a national championship and I'm very happy these two got that experience. It's both special and memorable."
"Mazen impacted our tennis program on so many levels and I'm proud of his growth as a player, teammate and young man. Patrick has two more seasons and this week's tournament is a motivator along with his new and returning teammates. We're on a good path and will keep getting better."
The Bruins took the early 3-1 lead in the first set, before eventually taking it 6-3. In the second, Alabama won the first game before UCLA won two straight to take the 2-1 lead. The Tide had an answer after winning two straight games of their own to go up 3-2. The Bruins took back control after going up 5-4 and eventually closing out the match, 6-4.
On Friday, the duo made history by advancing to the program's first-ever national championship after besting SEC-foe No. 32 Braun/Oradini in the semifinal. On Thursday, Osama and Kaukovalta became just the third doubles pair in program history to advance to the semifinals and the first to do so since 1990.
Earlier in the week, Osama and Kaukovalta earned All-America honors after earning two victories in the tournament, including defeating No. 13 Blumberg/Boyden (UNC). On Tuesday, Osama and Kaukovalta picked up their first-career NCAA Doubles Tournament victories after defeating No. 17 Kellovsky/Ponwith of Arizona State in straight sets in the first round.
Alabama NCAA Doubles Results
Round of 32: No. 11 Osama/Kaukovalta def. No. 17 Kellovsky/Ponwith (Arizona State), 6-2, 6-4
Round of 16: No. 11 Osama/Kaukovalta def. No. 13 Blumberg/Boyden (UNC), 7-5, 6-2
Quarterfinal: No. 11 Osama/Kaukovalta def. No. 35 Frosa/Dellien (Wichita State), 6-3, 7-6(5)
Semifinal: No. 11 Osama/Kaukovalta def. No. 32 Braun/Oradini (Mississippi State), 6-2, 7-5
Final: No. 2 Cressy/Smith (UCLA) def. No. 11 Osama/Kaukovalta, 6-3, 6-4
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