With his team trailing 3-2 against Auburn, freshman Jose Hernandez showed maturity far superior to the level his nickname Bebo, Spanish for “baby boy,” indicates.
Hernandez cruised to win the first set 6-2 against singles opponent Tim Hewitt and built a 5-3 lead in the match’s second set.
“He served really well, but I was able to break him easily early on,” Hernandez said. “I felt in control of the match from the beginning.”
Hewitt responded by winning four consecutive games to steal the second set, holding serve twice while breaking Hernandez in consecutive service games.
“I got into a rhythm, but then I popped my racket’s strings,” Hernandez said. “I lost my concentration and he was able to break me.”
UNC players whose matches had already finished gathered to cheer on Hernandez in the match’s final set. But Hewitt dominated his first two service games while again breaking Hernandez to take a 3-0 lead.
“At that moment, I felt some pressure,” Hernandez said. “I saw the scoreboard and knew my team needed me, but I handled it pretty well.”
During the break between games, Hernandez glanced through a notebook containing positive quotes to regain his confidence and focus.
He returned to the match a changed player.
Hernandez fought through a difficult game to hold serve and cut Hewitt’s lead to 3-1. The freshman then broke Hewitt, an accomplished server, with consecutive cross-court forehand winners.
“You have to come through in big situations,” Hernandez said. “During the break, when I was down 3-0, I kept thinking I only needed one break to get back in the match.”
Even though he still held a slight advantage, Hewitt’s confidence visibly waned.
After most Hernandez winners, Hewitt nervously paced the baseline before the following point.
Hernandez’s third set comeback continued when he held serve to tie the score 3-3. But Hewitt’s overpowering serve allowed him to salvage a close game to regain the lead 4-3.
With the majority of fans at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center watching, Hernandez’s clinical forehand winners helped him win three consecutive games to finish the match.
“They gave us everything we could handle,” UNC coach Sam Paul said. “We can’t control how the opponent plays, but we can control our effort.”
Hernandez’s rally tied the overall team score 3-3, allowing UNC senior Andrew Crone to clinch the 4-3 victory by defeating Michael Wardell.
“I just told myself to hit one more ball than him, and I started winning points again,” Hernandez said. “Without my teammates’ support I probably would have gotten the (loss) today.”
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
