PALO ALTO, Calif. ? Senior Alex Hume concluded his UK tennis career Wednesday by dropping a hard fought three-set match against Illinois? 24th-ranked Kevin Anderson at the Taube Tennis Center in Stanford, Calif. Hume jumped ahead of Anderson by taking the first set 6-3, before losing the final two sets 6-3, 7-5.
Hume, the nation?s 37th-ranked player, came out in the first set firing on all cylinders. The Alexandria, Va., native claimed the first set 6-3 after winning the final three games over the 6-7 brother of UK freshman Greg Anderson.
In the second set, Anderson, who had been ranked in the top 10 most of the season, used his powerful serve to defeat Hume 6-3 to force the decisive third set.
The final third set was as tightly contested as other two sets. Hume had his chance to take command by breaking serve up 3-2, love 40, but Anderson came back. Hume had a passing shot that missed deep that helped aid Anderson?s turnaround. The two traded service games up to 5-5. At 5-5, Anderson played a flawless game to break Hume?s serve. Anderson finished off the set with and ace to win 7-5.
?This was really great college match today,? head coach Dennis Emery said. ?You hate to see your seniors who work so hard end their careers. Alex (Hume) had some chances in the final set but ran into some tough luck. You have to give Anderson a lot of credit for having some great serves throughout the match.?
The match ends a tremendous career for Hume who started as a walk-on and worked his way to a being a first-team All-SEC selection his senior season. Hume ends his career with 95 wins and was apart of teams that went to the NCAA tournament four straight campaigns.
?It?s a sad day because my four years (at Kentucky) comes to a close,? Hume said. ?I thought I had chances today to make some plays and I didn?t get the breakers I needed. I loved my time at Kentucky and I know there are worse places (than the NCAA Championships) to end one?s career.?
First Round NCAA Singles Championships
Taube Tennis Center – Stanford, Calif.
Kevin Anderson (ILL) def. Alex Hume (UK) – 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
