Emory freshman Hayden Cassone (S. Salem, NY) has been recognized by the University Athletic Association, earning Co-Player of the Week honors following his performance at last weekend's ITA National Indoor Championships. He shares the honor with Chicago's Luke Tsai.
Cassone played a pivotal role in helping the No. 1-ranked Emory men's tennis team to the program's third straight ITA Indoor Championship, going 3-0 at No. 4 singles and teaming with Jonathan Jemison to go 2-1 at third doubles.
In a come-from-behind over No. 16 Gustavus Adolphus in the quarterfinals, his 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 decision over Chase Johnson evened the match score at 4-4, setting the stage for Scott Rubinstein's match-clinching point at No. 6. Earlier, Cassone and Jemison gave the Eagles a 2-0 edge following an 8-3 victory in doubles. Cassone followed that effort by winning the final and deciding match of the day in the semifinals against Chicago, registering a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, triumph over Jeremy Yuan. Against No. 2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the championship match, Cassone and Jemison accounted for the team's lone point in doubles while coming through with the Eagles' first point in singles, a 6-3, 6-2, verdict over Daniel Park, which began an Emory comeback from a 1-4 deficit in the match.
So far this season, Cassone has an overall record of 12-2 in singles play, 4-0 in the spring.