Oct. 1, 2004
CHATANOOGA, Tenn. – Scott Blackmon and Zachary Rath advanced to the Round of 64 at the Icy Hot/ITA All-American on Friday, October 1. The two were the only Georgia Tech players to advance to the Round of 64.
Blackmon started the day defeating Wil Lofgren of Bradley. The two battled in three sets with Blackmon edging out the victory (4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2). In the afternoon, Blackmon took out Kentucky’s Nolan Polly in three sets. Polly, the No. 33 seed, took the first set 6-4. Blackmon battled back to even the match taking the second set 6-3. Blackmon won the final set in a tiebreaker, 8-6. Blackmon will take on Stef Tell from the University of Florida on Saturday.
Rath began the day with a straight set win over Nebraska’s Joel Reckeway (6-1, 6-2). In afternoon action, Rath defeated Ben Rogers of Tennessee to advance to the Round of 64. Rath won the three set match, 7-5,1-6, 6-4.
In earlier action, Tech’s Noah Tyler defeated Adam Bordow of Butler in straight sets (6-2, 7-5). Tyler fell in the second round to the top-seeded Marco Born of Middle Tennessee State, 6-2, 6-2.
David North reached the second round of competition with a first round bye. In his first action of the day, North fell to Garrett Snyder of Texas in three sets (2-6, 6-1, 6-7(4)).
Marko Rajevac and George Gvelesiani were both upset in the first round. Rajevac fell in three sets (1-6, 7-5, 5-7). Gvelesiani was eliminated from competition in straight sets (1-6, 2-6).
A pair of Georgia Tech doubles teams begins action Saturday morning. Gvelesiani and Rath will face Nihal Advani and Dinko Halacher of Arkansas-Little Rock, while North and Blackmon will match up with either Nolan Polly and Marcus Sunda (Kentucky) or Drew Eberly and Dennis Mertens (Ohio State).
Jose Luis Muguruza is set to begin action on Monday, October 4. Muguruza will participate in singles action and will team with Rajevac for doubles.
Complete information on the Icy Hot/ITA Men’s All-American Intercollegiate can be found of the official website for the ITA, www.itatennis.com.
-GT-
