Ohio State Men's Tennis (2014/2019/2024 ITA Indoor National Champs, 17 Straight B1G Titles)

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Cannon Kinglsey Claims First Pro Title in Greece - Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Former Ohio State All-American Cannon Kingsley claimed his first professional singles title this week in Heraklion, Greece this week.

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Kingsley’s win highlighted a great week on the pro circuit for the Buckeyes

Former Ohio State All-American Cannon Kingsley claimed his first professional singles title this week in Heraklion, Greece this week.

That was one of five Buckeyes to reach the finals or semifinals of pro events this week.

Kingsley, who entered the week at 404 in the ATP rankings, was the No. 2 seed in the singles draw in Greece. He dropped just one game in his first three matches before taking down Johan Nikles 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals and then topped Adrian Bodmer 6-3, 7-6(4) in the finals to claim the title. Kingsley has won two doubles titles this year and has four in his career.

Fellow former All-Americans and national champions Robert Cash and JJ Tracy reached the doubles final at the ATP Calgary National Bank Challenger. The No. 2 seeds rolled to straight-set wins in the first two rounds and then outlasted former collegiate rivals Liam Draxl and Cleeve Harper 10-8 in a match tiebreaker to reach the finals. They would fall to the top-seeds but enjoyed another great week. Cash and Tracy have both risen into the Top 200 in the ATP doubles rankings.

Matej Vocel made a run with Jakub Paul to the doubles final at the ATP event in France this week before finishing runner-up. This was his 11th doubles final this year and his second-consecutive in an ATP Challenger event. He's won four ITF doubles titles and is currently ranked a career-best 192 in the ATP doubles rankings.

Current sophomore Aidan Kim has already qualified for the NCAA Championship after reaching the semifinals of the ITA All-American Championship last month. He played in the $25K event in Louisville last week and reached the quarterfinals. This week in at the $25K in Harlingen, Texas, he made a run to the semifinals, knocking off world No. 364 Toby Kodat in straight-sets in the quarterfinals.

Kim will play in the NCAA Championship next month in Waco, Texas. The tournament starts on Nov. 19.

 

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Longtime Men’s Tennis Head Coach John Daly Passes Away - Ohio State

Ohio State

ohiostatebuckeyes.com

Longtime Men’s Tennis Head Coach John Daly Passes Away​

Daly coached 28 years from 1972-99 and amassed 431 wins

John Daly, longtime Ohio State men’s tennis coach, passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. He was 78 years old.

Daly coached at Ohio State for 28 years from 1972 to 1999. He won 431 matches as Buckeye head coach and 449 in his career, including a season at Northern Illinois prior to his time at Ohio State.

Daly was hired for his first, full-time coaching job at Notre Dame as an assistant coach in 1970. He also ran the NCAA University Division Tennis Championships that season. He then came to Ohio State the following year and started as the Buckeye’s head coach in August of 1971.

One of the longest-tenured coaches in Ohio State Athletics history, Daly coached the first three All-Americans in Ohio State men’s tennis history – Francisco Gonzalez (1975 and 1976), Ernie Fernandez (1981) and Ty Tucker (1990 and 1991).

Daly held several other non-coaching assignments during his tenure and was also involved in other areas of higher education with the university during his time.

Daly began his career at Northern Illinois where he led the Huskies to an 18-3 record in 1970. He then joined the OSU staff in 1972. His teams finished among the top four in the Big Ten 13 times, including the 1991 Big Ten Championship season.

Daly’s tenure also produced 31 All-Big Ten selections and six Big Ten singles and doubles champions. Three All-Americans and one NCAA singles semifinalist, along with 30 academic All-Big Ten honorees played for Daly at Ohio State.

Following his retirement, he worked for 10 years at The McConnell Heart Health Center where he was instrumental in launching the executive wellness program.

Daly was fiercely committed to volunteerism and giving back to the community. Some of his accomplishments include:

• Donating refinished wine boxes for local charities, raising thousands of dollars
• Hosting wheelchair tennis tournaments, teaching wheelchair tennis players and traveling as the wheelchair tennis coach to the Junior Olympics in Paris, France.
• Starting the Ohio State University’s Varsity Arts Exhibition
• Chairing several fundraising events like The Tennis Auction Ball, benefiting the Buckeye Ranch.

Daly was married to the love of his life, Sandra, for 56 years. The couple had two daughters and a son and seven grandchildren. All three of his children and son-in-law are Ohio State alumni. He has two grandchildren who are currently attending Ohio State as well.

R.I.P.