URBANA, Ill. (AP) — Blaz Rola of Ohio State and Nicole Gibbs of Stanford won NCAA singles titles Monday.
Gibbs repeated as women’s champion after routing a hobbled Mary Weatherholt of Nebraska 6-2, 6-4. Rola, who is from Slovenia, became the first men’s tennis champion for the Buckeyes, beating Jarmere Jenkins of Virginia 7-6 (8), 6-4.
Rola won on a disputed match point. His forehand landed near the line and was called in. Jenkins jumped up and down and pointed at a scuff mark where he said the ball landed. After the match, Rola conceded the ball appeared to have been out.
Gibbs, a junior who plans to turn pro, had never played Weatherholt before. She was eventually able to dominate with a strong forehand after falling behind 3-2 early in the first set.
Weatherholt hyperextended her right knee late in the second set returning a hard backhand and was able to continue only after it had been heavily taped. That knee has been operated on three times, most recently in September.
