April 8, 2011
ATLANTA – All-American Guillermo Gomez rallied to defeat 6th-ranked Henrique Cunha in three sets at first singles, but that was the only point Georgia Tech would get as the 18th-ranked Yellow Jackets fell to No. 11 Duke, 6-1, Friday afternoon at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
The loss stopped Tech’s winning streak at five matches and dropped the Yellow Jackets to 15-3 overall, 6-1 in the ACC. Duke improved to 15-8 overall, 6-1 in the ACC.
Duke won close matches at No. 1 and 2 doubles to gain the first point, then won the No. 2 and 6 singles matches in straight sets before Gomez got Tech on the board.
“I have to give credit to Duke. When it came down to the critical points, they executed and we didn’t,” said Tech coach Kenny Thorne. “It started in the doubles when we had an opportunity, serving at 6-5 on both courts two and three. They saved a match point and took the No. 2 doubles match. That’s very important when you have two even teams.”
Reid Carleton dispatched Tech’s Juan Spir, 7-6, 7-5, at No. 2, and Luke Marchese earned a 6-4, 6-3 win at sixth singles over Dean O’Brien to go up 3-0.
Meanwhile, Gomez dropped his first set against Cunha, 6-4, then rallied to beat the Blue Devils sophomore, 6-2, 6-2, to score the Jackets’ only point and make the match score 3-1.
“Guillermo had a very good win against a great player in Cunha,” said Thorne. “That’s a very important win for Guillermo and should give him a lot of confidence.”
Duke then got the clinching point at No. 4 when Fred Saba defeated Eliot Potvin, 7-6, 7-5. Soon after, Kevin King retired with an injury trailing 3-0 in the third set of his match with Chris Mengel, and Torsten Wietoska defeated Magin Ortiga at No. 5 in straight sets.
“It was more of the same in singles in quite a few matches,” said Thorne. “We just couldn’t convert. We have to play better to beat a team like this. Credit goes to Duke for taking it to us in a lot of matches. Hopefully we get a chance to play them again in the ACC Tournament.”
Tech returns to action Sunday at 12 noon against No. 17 North Carolina, the Yellow Jackets’ final regular-season home match.
Tennis Match Results
Duke vs Georgia Tech
Apr 08, 2011 at Atlanta, Ga.
#11 Duke 6, #18 Georgia Tech 1
Singles competition
1. #16 Guillermo Gomez (GT) def. #6 Henrique Cunha (DU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. #8 Reid Carleton (DU) def. #67 Juan Spir (GT) 7-6 (8-6), 7-5
3. #123 Chris Mengel (DU) def. Kevin King (GT) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 3-0, retired
4. Fred Saba (DU) def. Eliot Potvin (GT) 7-6 (7-1), 7-5
5. Torsten WietoskaJared Pinsky (DU) def. Magin Ortiga (GT) 6-3, 7-5
6. Luke Marchese (DU) def. Dean O’Brien (GT) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #6 Henrique Cunha/Reid Carleton (DU) def. #14 Juan Spir/Kevin King (GT) 8-6
2. Chris Mengel/David Holland (DU) def. Eliot Potvin/Ryan Smith (GT) 9-8 (8-6)
3. Guillermo Gomez/Dean O’Brien (GT) def. Torsten Wietoska/Cale Hammond (DU) 9-8 (7-5)
Match Notes:
Duke 15-7, 6-1; National ranking #11
Georgia Tech 15-3, 6-2; National ranking #18
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,6,1,4,3,5)
