This Day in UK Athletics History: Drada Advances to NCAA Semis (2000)
ATHENS, Ga. — Carlos Drada reached uncharted territory on Friday, May 26, 2000, for the University of Kentucky men’s tennis team as the senior won two matches to advance to the semifinals of the NCAA Tennis Singles Championships.
With temperatures in the mid 90’s, Drada (28-20) made quick work of No. 3 seed Shuon Madden of Texas A&M in the quarterfinals, winning 6-2, 6-4. Drada, currently ranked No. 31 in the nation, reached the quarters by defeating No. 48 Andres Pedroso of Duke in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) earlier in the day in the round of 16.
“We had difficult conditions to play in again today with the heat, so I just tried to play smart,” Drada said, one day after following his second-round win with a trip to the hospital because to dehydration. “I worked hard to stay mentally strong and I just hung in there for the victories.”
While at the hospital on Thursday after a grueling three-set win over 13th-ranked Cary Franklin of Illinois decided on a third set tie-breaker, Drada received intravenous fluids from an IV to help him recover for the possibility of two matches on Friday.
Drada’s quarterfinal match-up marked just the second trip ever to the round of eight for a UK men’s tennis player after Greg Van Emburgh advanced that far in 1988. No Wildcat had ever reached the semifinal round of four prior to Drada’s run of four straight wins against top 50 opponents. Drada is 11-12 against players ranked among the top 50 this season, including a victory over the current No. 1 player in the nation, Florida’s Jeff Morrison, two months ago.
“I’m eager to play tomorrow,” Drada said. “I plan on going out there to have fun and enjoy the match. I’m excited to reach this far in the tournament, but I will be prepared to compete again tomorrow.”
As the lone unseeded player remaining in the tournament field of four, Drada will be facing the No. 9 seed, Stanford’s K.J. Hippensteel. The sophomore Hippensteel who began the spring season as the No. 1-ranked player in the nation, won the only meeting between these two players this season (7-5, 6-3) in the second round of the ITA All-American championships in October.
The other semifinal draw features No. 5 seed Alex Kim of Stanford against the defending NCAA Singles Champion, Florida’s Morrison. Both semifinal matches will take place at 10 a.m. EDT on Saturday with the final set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The tournament is being held at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of Georgia.
