Nov. 9, 2014
Athens, Ga. – Nathan Rakitt knocked off Eric Diaz of Georgia in three sets Sunday to remain unbeaten and win the championship at the Bulldog Scramble at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.
Rakitt, ranked 76th in the nation, scored a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Diaz to improve to 5-0 for the weekend. The junior from Marietta, Ga., defeated two ranked foes in his weekend run and finished the fall with a 6-3 singles record. He also teamed with Christopher Eubanks Sunday to earn an 8-2 doubles win over Felipe Jaworski and Jannis Koeke of Georgia State.
“I thought I played really well and relaxed this weekend,” said Rakitt, who knocked off 89th-ranked Nick Wood of Georgia and No. 40 Andrew Harris of Oklahoma earlier in the weekend. “I had some tough results against some very good players earlier in the fall, and felt like I hadn’t really broken out yet. I was down in almost every match I played this weekend, and I just had to keep believing that my game plan was going to eventually work.
“The matches against Wood and Harris really stuck out for me. Wood is a tough counterpuncher that I’ve struggled against in the past, and I’m happy that I was able to execute in the critical points of the match. My match with Harris was one of those matches where I had to out tough him. He’s a very good player who is able to elevate his game at big moments, and I had to match his best time and time again.”
Tech went 2-3 in Sunday’s singles session, with freshman Elijah Melendez providing the other Yellow Jacket win with a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over Jaworski. The Jackets were 12-13 in singles over the weekend, and 3-3 in doubles after winning twice Sunday. Melendez and Daniel Yun got past South Carolina’s Andrew Schafer and Sam Swank, 8-5.
Yun, a freshman from Marietta, Ga., went 3-2 in singles for the weekend, while Eubanks went 2-3 and Melendez and Carlos Benito each went 1-4.
Tech has completed its fall schedule and will resume competition on mid-January.
Bulldog Scramble
Nov. 7-9, 2014 | Athens, Ga. | Dan Magill Tennis Complex
Sunday, Nov. 9
Doubles
Christopher Eubanks/Nathan Rakitt (Georgia Tech) def. Felipe Jaworski/Jannis Koeke (Georgia State), 8-2
Elijah Melendez/Daniel Yun (Georgia Tech) def. Andrew Schafer/Sam Swank (South Carolina), 8-5
Singles
Wayne Montgomery (Georgia) def. Christopher Eubanks (Georgia Tech), 6-3, 7-5
#76 Nathan Rakitt (Georgia Tech) def. Eric Diaz (Georgia), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
#89 Nick Wood (Georgia) def. Carlos Benito (Georgia Tech), 6-4, 6-3
Thiago Pinheiro (South Carolina) def. Daniel Yun (Georgia Tech), 6-2, 6-2
Elijah Melendez (Georgia Tech) def. Felipe Jaworski (Georgia State), 7-6(5), 6-2
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S TENNIS
Georgia Tech’s men’s tennis team is in its 17th year under head coach Kenny Thorne. The Yellow Jackets have played in the NCAA Championship 14 times. Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Tennis on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GT_MTEN). For more information on Tech men’s tennis, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
