ATHENS, Ga. (AP)—Unseeded Austen Childs of Louisville beat Auburn’s Tim Puetz 7-6 (2), 6-0 on Sunday to reach the men’s NCAA tennis singles final against Stanford’s Bradley Klahn.
Klahn eliminated top-seeded Henrique Cunha of Duke 6-2, 6-2 to earn a spot in Monday’s title match. He is looking to become the 12th player from Stanford to win a college singles crown. Childs is the first Louisville player to even reach the quarterfinals.
“I have run out of clothes,” Louisville coach Rex Ecarma said. “I didn’t know we would be here this long. He lost in straight sets in the first round the last two years.”
Chelsea Gullickson of Georgia, playing on her home courts, will take on second-seeded Jana Juricova of California in the women’s championship match. Juricova beat Miami’s Laura Vallverdu 7-6 (6), 6-2.
Gullickson, who lost in the semifinals to Vallverdu last year, defeated fourth-seeded Hilary Barte of Stanford 7-6 (6), 6-3.