The six Americans competing at the Master’U BNP Paribas won’t play any mixed doubles matches or any events on red clay during the 2012 spring season – or any season for that matter.
Yet, with the collegiate world championship on the line Sunday, Daniel Nguyen of USC and Jacqueline Cako of Arizona State completed a clay-court comeback for the Americans with a 6-4, 6-1 win over the French team of Dorian Descloix and Nathalie Piquion.
Through four singles matches on Sunday, host France led the United States 3-1, highlighted by a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory for Clemson’s Nelly Ciolkowski over Florida’s Lauren Embree.
Only a third-set tiebreak win by Wil Spencer of Georgia prevented the Americans from being swept away before doubles play even began.
As it turned out, Spencer sparked a change in the momentum that saw Team USA earn straight-set wins in women’s, men’s and mixed doubles.
First, Embree avenged her singles loss by teaming with Beatrice Capra to beat Ciolkowski and Anais van Cauter 7-5, 6-0. Then, Nguyen and Jarmere Jenkins dismissed Descloix and Jules Marie 6-3, 6-3 in men’s doubles.
Nguyen stayed on court to partner Cako to a dramatic 4-3 decision and the Americans' second Master’U BNP Paribas title in the last three years.
On the week, Cako and Spencer proved to be the most valuable players for Team USA. Neither the Arizona State sophomore, nor the Georgia senior, lost a match in Rouen. Cako went 2-0 in women’s singles and 3-0 in mixed doubles, while Spencer finished 3-0 in men’s singles and 1-0 in men’s doubles.
The women’s doubles pairing of Embree and Capra also yielded great results for the Americans. The Florida junior and Duke freshman swept all three of their women’s doubles matches together.
Sunday marked the third straight meeting between the U.S. and France for the Master’U BNP Paribas title. The Americans defeated the French for the 2009 championship, before falling to them last year.
The sixth annual Master’U BNP Paribas united collegiate tennis players from around the world. The eight-team competition featured six student-athletes and two head coaches from ITA member schools who represented the United States against their peers.
Here's a closer look at the event:
What: International College Team Competition
Where: Rouen, France
When: December 8-11, 2011
Format: Best-of-7 Matches (2 MS, 2 WS, 1 MD, 1 WD, 1 XD)
Match Info: Draw , Day 1 Results , Day 2 Results
Official Sites: Master-U-BNPParibas.com, Facebook
Team USA Blog: Beatrice Capra, Mark Guilbeau and Greg Patton
Team USA Press Release: USTA.com
ITA Archives: 2010, 2009
ITA Players at Master'U BNP Paribas
Jacqueline Cako Arizona State University sophomore
Noteworthy: 2011 ITA All-American in singles
Fall Highlights : Riviera/ITA All-American Singles Finalist
Beatrice CapraDuke University freshman
Noteworthy: Reached third round at the 2010 US Open
Fall Highlights : Riviera/ITA All-American Singles Quarterfinalist, USTA/ITA Carolina Regional Doubles Finalist, USTA/ITA National Indoor Singles Consolation Winner
Lauren EmbreeUniversity of Florida junior
Noteworthy : 2010 and 2011 ITA All-American in singles
Fall Highlights: Riviera/ITA All-American Doubles Consolation Winner, USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Singles Finalist
Jarmere Jenkins
University of Virginia junior
Noteworthy: Won at least 30 singles and 30 doubles matches in 2010 and 2011
Fall Highlights: USTA/ITA Atlantic Regional Singles Finalist
Daniel Nguyen
University of Southern California senior
Noteworthy: Helped lead USC to the last three NCAA national team titles
Fall Highlights: ITA All-American Singles Semifinalist
Wil Spencer
University of Georgia senior
Noteworthy: 2011 ITA All-American in singles
Fall Highlights: ITA All-American Singles Finalist, USTA/ITA National Indoor Singles Consolation Winner
Nelly Ciolkowski(FRA)
Clemson University junior
Noteworthy: Also represented France at the 2011 Universiade in Shenzhen, China
Fall Highlights: USTA/ITA Carolina Regional Singles Finalist
ITA Coaches at Master'U BNP Paribas
Mark Guilbeau
University of Virginia Women’s Head Coach
Career Record: 239-152
Noteworthy: Has led his team to the NCAA tournament 14 times in 15 years as head coach
Greg Patton
Boise State University Men's Head Coach
Career Record: 685-321
Noteworthy: Coached Pete Sampras and Jim Courier on the U.S. junior national team
