After falling to Dorsch, Chu then teamed up with Kumar to face Ruiz and Isner—a team with “an average height of seven feet,” Chu laughed—and ultimately, the Georgia pair with the booming serves won out, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4.

That match marked the end of strong showing by the rookie Kumar, whom Chu praised for his poise on college tennis’ biggest stage.

It also marked the end of Chu’s collegiate career, and the end of a senior season that earned the co-captain Ivy League Player of the Year and All-America honors.

Chu played 24 sets of tennis during his stay in College Station, Tex., and he scored several major upsets in the process.

Today, against the top-ranked competitors in both the singles and doubles draws of the national championships, Chu fell a set short each time.

But oddly enough, the senior is all right with the thought, even a few hours after he has taken his final collegiate shot.

“Losing’s never fun,” he admits. “But it’s been one hell of a ride.”

—Staff writer Rebecca A. Seesel can be reached at seesel@fas.harvard.edu.