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Honfleur, France – For the fourth consecutive championship, and for the 12th time in tournament history, the United States is crowned champions of the Master’U BNP Paribas Championships, the world event of university tennis.
Pinning the top two seeded teams in the final, Team USA (1) and Team Great Britain (2), the star power was on full display by both teams on Sunday as many of the top players from the NCAA ranks suited up for their countries to fight for a championship.
Meeting in the championship for the fifth straight tournament, Team USA showed no signs of stepping down from their thrown, putting together many of their best results of the tournament when the lights were the brightest.
It was Mary Stoiana (Texas A&M) who put Team USA ahead early as the No. 1 ranked player in the ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings rolled to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Victoria Allen (Florida State) at the No. 2 women’s singles line. Stoiana finished the tournament unbeaten across all competitions, finishing 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles earning a win in both women’s and mixed doubles.
Following Stoiana, it was Murphy Cassone (Arizona State) who kept things rolling for the Americans, taking down Finn Bass (Baylor) 6-1, 7-6 (3) from the No. 2 men’s singles line. For Cassone, he continued his dominant fall season in France as the 2023 ITA Men’s All-American Championship Finalist finished 4-0 across all play this weekend.
Now ahead 2-0 in the match, Fiona Crawley (North Carolina) was the next to win for Team USA as the 2023 ITA National Player of the Year took down Amelia Rajecki (NC State) from the No. 1 women’s singles position. Crawley becomes just the fifth American to win multiple Master’U Championships since the tournament’s formation.
To secure the title, Team USA turned to the No. 1 ranked men’s player in the ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings, Eliot Spizzirri (Texas). Spizzirri, who dropped a close match yesterday against France, bounced right back today taking down Michael Shaw 6-3, 7-6 (4) to secure the championship for the Americans.
For Team USA coach Greg Patton (former Boise State head coach), this championship had even more significance as this Master’U Championship marked his last as the coach of the United States. Leading the United States to all twelve of its titles, Patton leaves a legacy that will be remembered by his country and his competitors for years to come.
Team USA vs Team Great Britain Results
- Mary Stoiana (USA) def Victoria Allen (GBR) 6-3, 6-2
- Fiona Crawley (USA) def Amelia Rajecki (GBR) 6-0, 6-2
- Murphy Cassone (USA) def Finn Bass (GBR) 6-1, 7-6 (3)
- Eliot Spizzirri (USA) def Michael Shaw (GBR) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
