University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
McDonald Helps U.S. Win Master'U BNPP
December 07, 2015 | Men's Tennis
RENNES, France – UCLA junior Mackenzie McDonald defeated Gregory Jacq in straights to help lead the United States to a 4-1 victory over France in the Master'U BNP Paribas Finals on Sunday. The win marked the sixth victory (fifth consecutive) in the competition for the United States.
“Winning this tournament feels like a big accomplishment, and we are so happy to bring this trophy back for the fifth year in a row,” said McDonald. “We were able to compete at a top level for each other. Although it was a short three days of competition, we went through a lot of tough matches and pushed each other to get the win."
McDonald, playing No. 1 men's singles, kicked off competition on Friday with a win over Great Britain's Mark Whitehouse. The UCLA standout took down his opponent in straights, 6-4, 7-6. The United States blanked Great Britain in the quarterfinals, 7-0, and did not drop a set the entire day.
On Saturday, the Americans faced the Germans. The United States took an early 2-0 lead after Maegan Manasse (Cal) and Danielle Collins (Virginia) won their singles matches. Germany evened the score in the men's singles matches as McDonald fell to Richard Becker, 6-7, 2-6, and Austin Smith (Georgia) lost in a three-set heartbreaker, 6-7, 6-4, 5-7. The Germans won the fifth match of the day (women's doubles) to take the lead.
Down 3-2, the United States pulled out come-from-behind victories in men's doubles and mixed doubles. After dropping their first set, McDonald and Smith rallied in the second to force a third set. The American pair took the third, 11-9, to even the score. The U.S. punched its ticket to the finals when Brooke Austin (Florida) and Thomas Fawcett (Stanford) edged their German opponents in mixed doubles, 6-3, 7-6.
In the finals on Sunday, the Americans faced France in a rematch of last year's final. The U.S. won at No. 1 women's singles, No. 1 men's singles, No. 2 men's singles, and women's doubles, clinching the team match with women's doubles.
"I'm so happy to be able to represent my country outside the United States,” added McDonald. “It was awesome for our team coming from various collegiate teams across the country to come together and fight for each other.”
Players Mentioned
