SURREY, ENGLAND – UNC Asheville Men’s Tennis sophomore Sai Gandepalli recently competed on the Lexus British Premier Tour in his home country of England, taking a runner-up finish in men’s doubles and advancing to the round of 32 in men’s singles.
 
Gandepalli egan singles play with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Fraser Swan, before beating Ellison Minnaar 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the round of 32. His singles run came to an end with a 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 loss to his eventual doubles partner Isaac Forde.
 
In doubles play, he and Forde began play with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Christian Doel and David Middleton in the Round of 16. The pair then defeated Oliver Douglas and Patrick Foley in the quarterfinal 1-6, 6-4, 10-3 before advancing to the final with a 7-6, 6-3 win over Joshua Freeman and James McKinlay. Gandepalli and Forde fell in the final 7-6, 6-2 to top seed James Beaven and Henry Bowden.
 
“Sai represented the University of North Carolina Asheville in a big way on a big stage while playing some great competition,” said head coach Dustin Hale. “We can’t wait to get him back on the courts for us.”