WINSTON-SALEM — Junior Kaua Santos will soon enter his third season as a North Carolina A&T men's tennis player once the spring season begins, and his maturity is evident.
Santos displayed that growth over the weekend at the Wake Forest University Open, the first tournament of the fall for the Aggies. Santos won his first career title after capturing the B draw without dropping a set.
Not only did he win the tournament. But he also dominated. He did not lose a match through four sets. He won the tournament by remaining composed and focused through each round, according to his head, Dejon Bivens.
"As a program, we're in a rebuild, but the future looks extremely bright," said Bivens.
Santos dominated his only match on Saturday, beating Ilya Moundous 6-0, 6-0. Then Sunday came, and his improved maturity showed up. He battled and persevered through three matches. His first win came against Sebastian Alejandro Hernandez Peralta 6-3, 6-1.
In the semifinals, he triumphed over Jose Hernandez, 6-4, 6-3. Fatigue crept up in the final match, but he relied on the coaching he received to outlast Dominick Suwak, 7-6(4), 6-2.
"What makes this moment so special is knowing how hard Kaua has worked over the last few weeks and throughout last season to prepare for this opportunity," said Bivens, who stepped in to head the tennis programs in 2021. "To see him break through and become a champion is a testament to his commitment and heart. He has truly earned it, and I'm excited to see him build on this success moving forward."
Santos will enter the 2026 spring season with 27 career wins. Sophomore teammate Jindrich Brill also played well for the men's tennis team over the weekend in Draw A.
He defeated Ryosuke Inagawa 6-4, 6-1 before advancing after Manteo Berne retired during the quarterfinals. In the semis, he lost to North Carolina State University's Cody Benton, 6-2, 0-6, and 12-10 in the tiebreaker.
"That type of fight and level of play speaks volumes about his potential," said Bivens. With Kaua, (Ian Pedersen) and the rest of the team, our group proved that we can compete at the highest level. The foundation is strong, the progress is real, and the future is incredibly bright for Aggies tennis."
A&T's next stop along their fall tour occurs during the Liberty University Dual Prize, which begins Friday, Sept. 5, in Lynchburg, Virginia.
