TULSA, Okla. – University of Denver senior and men's tennis player Daniel Sancho Arbizu lost his opening match at the 2024 ITA All-American Championships on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Sancho Arbizu fell 6-4 6-3 to NC State's Braden Shick in the main draw round of 64, conceding late breaks in both sets. The match was closer than the final score indicated with Sancho Arbizu winning 50 of the 105 points played.
 
The players exchanged breaks on deuce points through the first five games of the set. Sancho Arbizu had the set's next chance for a break, going up 30-40 on Shick's serve in the ninth game but ultimately seeing his opponent find the hold for a 5-4 lead. Shick found a 30-40 lead of his own on Sancho Arbizu's serve in the following game and earned the break to seal the set.
 
The second set started with a lengthy delay while the chair umpire confirmed the score with Sancho Arbizu serving at 30-all in the second game. When play resumed, Schick was able to win the next two points for a break and consolidated for a 3-0 lead. Sancho Arbizu got on the board with a love hold in the next game and then got back on serve with a break at 15-40 for 2-3.
 
Shick reclaimed a break lead for 4-2 and though Sancho Arbizu was able to stay in the match with an easy hold of serve, the NC State player served out the match at 6-3.
 
Sancho Arbizu will continue play at the ITA All-American Championships with a consolation match on Thursday against No. 8-seeded Jack Anthrop from Ohio State at 1:30 p.m. CT/12:30 p.m. MT. His route to the NCAA National Championships remains alive should he win four straight consolation matches to make it into the consolation final.
 
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