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The Daily Tar Heel

Hernandez shines in win against no. 10 Blue Devils

As the North Carolina men’s tennis match against Duke went down to the wire on Wednesday, it seemed like last year all over again.

Like last year, UNC found itself tied 3-3 against the Blue Devils with the final match in a deciding third set.

And just like last year, sophomore Jose Hernandez was the last Tar Heel left on the court.

This time, history didn’t repeat itself.

Last season, playing against Reid Carleton, Hernandez couldn’t overcome severe leg cramps that began in the third set. He had a chance to serve for the win up 5-4 in the final set, but dropped the game and finally a tiebreaker he had at one point led 5-2, as UNC lost the match.

But on Wednesday, No. 25 Hernandez took down No. 6 Henrique Cunha on the top court and No. 19 North Carolina dropped the No. 10 Blue Devils in a dramatic come-from-behind win.

“It feels amazing,” Hernandez said. “Especially after last year.”

Hernandez ended the match by breaking Cunha in the final game of the third set, with Cunha down 5-4 but on serve. It was the only break of the set for either player.

When Cunha sailed a forehand long on match point, a clearly drained Hernandez threw his arms up in celebration and walked off the court smiling.

“I had to win,” Hernandez said.

It was the opposite ending from last year’s match, when Hernandez could barely move around the court by the end of the match, lost all the power on his serve and screamed several times from the pain of the leg cramps.

Hernandez said his conditioning had improved significantly from last year, in part because he enrolled in a Lifetime Fitness jogging class.

“It’s an LFIT class on Monday and Wednesday,” Hernandez said. “So I do morning workouts from eight to nine, then from nine to 10 is my jogging class, then I have afternoon workouts. I’m really happy I did that. It helps keep me in shape.”

As the third set dragged on between Hernandez and Cunha, both players appeared fatigued, hitting the ball with less velocity and making more unforced errors. But in a battle of endurance on a hot afternoon, Hernandez’s training paid off.

UNC coach Sam Paul said the effort Hernandez has put in since last season has made him much more prepared to handle the type of match he played against Cunha.

“Jose is such a hard worker,” Paul said. “He’s a guy who just wants it so badly. He’s learned a lot from last year. He’s stronger physically and mentally.”

Paul said that Hernandez beating a top opponent like Cunha, who had lost just one ACC match in his career before Wednesday, wasn’t surprising.

“Hernandez is a top player,” Paul said. “He’s one of the best players in the country.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.

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