Tuesday, June 1, 2004
Baylor's Becker win singles, Stanford captures doubles title
By The Associated Press
TULSA, Okla. - Benjamin Becker of Baylor won a long tiebreaker in the second set and defeated Tulane's Michael Kogan 6-4, 7-6 to capture the NCAA men's tennis championship Monday.
Stanford's KC Corkery and Sam Warburg won the doubles title, beating Georgia's Bo Hodge and John Isner 6-2, 6-7, 6-4. It was the Cardinal's 14th NCAA doubles title.
The singles final featured 11 service breaks, eight in the second set.
"Yeah, this was by far my biggest win," Becker said. "I was surprised. I didn't expect it at all."
Becker, a junior, was down 6-5 in the second set when he broke Kogan's serve and forced a tiebreaker.
Kogan led 6-5 in the tiebreaker and was serving to win the set when he lost the point.
With the next two serves, Becker took a 7-6 lead. But he fell behind 8-7 after he couldn't run down a drop shot by Kogan.
Trailing 8-9, Kogan's shot went long and he lost the tiebreaker 10-8 and the match.
"I thought I could have played better," said Kogan, a senior. "Especially, on my serve. I had served better all week. Maybe that was because he returned my serve so well. I definitely had my chances, but felt pretty tired in the second set."
Becker finished the season 44-9.
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