Liberty University
ITA All-American Championships
Marques Da Silva Takes No. 70 Cronje to 3 Sets at ITA All-American Championships
10/5/2021 3:04:14 PM | Men's Tennis
Liberty Flames men’s tennis player Rafael Marques Da Silva took UCF’s Lleyon Cronje, the 70th-ranked singles player in the country, to three sets on the fourth day of competition at the ITA Men’s All-American Championships, Tuesday.
Marques Da Silva and Cronje traded sets before Cronje prevailed 6-2 in the third for a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 qualifying consolation match triumph over Marques Da Silva at the Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park.
This closes out Liberty’s time at the prestigious ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa. The Flames posted nine singles wins against 10 losses and lost their only doubles match of the week.
Key Stats & Notes
• Tuesday’s matchup was a battle of highly-touted counterparts. Marques Da Silva was last year’s ASUN Championship MVP and an ASUN All-Conference first team performer. Cronje, who transferred to UCF from VCU, was named Atlantic 10 Performer of the Year and earned A-10 All-Conference first team honors during the spring 2021 campaign.
• A win would have been Marques Da Silva’s second career ranked singles victory. He defeated No. 88 Ignasi De Rueda of Charlotte, last spring.
• Liberty’s Josh Wilson and Zion Heaven led the team with three wins apiece at the tournament. Goncalo Ferreira earned two wins, and Deji Thomas-Smith was triumphant in one match.
• The ITA Men’s All-American Championships will continue through Sunday with main draw play.
Up Next
The entire Liberty squad (eight players) will be back in action this upcoming weekend at the Clemson Hidden Duals, held Friday through Sunday at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility in Clemson, S.C.
Friday (9 a.m.): Liberty vs. Indiana
Saturday (9 a.m.): Liberty vs. Mississippi State/Indiana
Sunday (Noon): Liberty vs. Clemson
