06-05-2004, 03:43 AM
The SMU men's tennis team finished the 2003-04 season ranked No. 34 in the nation in the final ITA rankings. The rankings were released on June 4. SMU, who finished the season 18-12, advanced to the NCAA round of 32 for the first time in three years defeating Georgia Tech, 4-0, in the first round before falling to the eventual NCAA champion Baylor in the round of 32. The No. 34 ranking marks the sixth time in the past seven years SMU has finished in the top 35 in the nation.
The Ponies were led by senior Johan Brunstrom who finished the year ranked No. 22 in the nation in singles play. The Sweden native advanced to the NCAA Singles Sweet 16, automatically earning All-American honors in the process. Brunstrom also defeated the nation's No. 1 and No. 10 ranked singles player during the year. His win against the No. 10 ranked player in the nation came against Baylor's Benjamin Becker, the eventual NCAA singles champion. Brunstrom's final singles ranking of No. 22 was the highest singles ranking for a Mustang since Genius Chidzikwe and Jon Wallmark finished No. 7 and No. 23, respectively, in 2001.
Brunstrom and teammate Henrik Soderberg finished the season ranked No. 32 in the nation in doubles play after going 14-8 on the season. Brunstrom ends his career ranked in the top 45 in doubles play each of his four years on the Hilltop. In 2003, Brunstrom and Soderberg finished the season ranked No. 44. In 2002, Brunstrom and former Pony Eric Cohn finished No. 20 and in 2001, Brunstrom teamed with former great Jon Wallmark to finish No. 2 in the nation in doubles play, winning the National Indoor Championship and finishing runner-up at the NCAA Doubles Championship.
The Ponies were led by senior Johan Brunstrom who finished the year ranked No. 22 in the nation in singles play. The Sweden native advanced to the NCAA Singles Sweet 16, automatically earning All-American honors in the process. Brunstrom also defeated the nation's No. 1 and No. 10 ranked singles player during the year. His win against the No. 10 ranked player in the nation came against Baylor's Benjamin Becker, the eventual NCAA singles champion. Brunstrom's final singles ranking of No. 22 was the highest singles ranking for a Mustang since Genius Chidzikwe and Jon Wallmark finished No. 7 and No. 23, respectively, in 2001.
Brunstrom and teammate Henrik Soderberg finished the season ranked No. 32 in the nation in doubles play after going 14-8 on the season. Brunstrom ends his career ranked in the top 45 in doubles play each of his four years on the Hilltop. In 2003, Brunstrom and Soderberg finished the season ranked No. 44. In 2002, Brunstrom and former Pony Eric Cohn finished No. 20 and in 2001, Brunstrom teamed with former great Jon Wallmark to finish No. 2 in the nation in doubles play, winning the National Indoor Championship and finishing runner-up at the NCAA Doubles Championship.