Oct. 7, 2007
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech’s Guillermo Gomez overcame a slow start to win the “A” singles draw championship at the Georgia Tech Fall Tournament on Sunday at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
Gomez, a freshman from Alicante, Spain, defeated Jamie Hunt, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Gomez started slow but came on strong, winning the second set. In the third set, Gomez fell behind 4-1 before winning four straight games to take a 5-4 lead. Hunt evened the score, winning on serve but Gomez was just too strong and took the next two games to earn the win.
“Guillermo (Gomez) fell behind early but did not get down on himself,” head coach Kenny Thorne said. “He just picked his game up as the match moved along and showed a lot of confidence. He showed a lot of maturity for a freshman in this match.”
Senior George Gvelesiani also played for a championship on Sunday, facing Nick Maurillo of Auburn in the “B” singles consolation bracket. Gvelesiani won the first set but could not hold on, eventually falling in three sets, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.
In doubles play, the Jacket duos of Scott Blackmon and Ryan Smith and Miguel Muguruza and Eliot Potvin each reached the final of the “A” doubles bracket by defeating teams from Georgia. Blackmon and Smith beat Drake Bernstein and Joshua Varela, 8-4. In the other semifinal match, Muguruza and Potvin knocked out the No. 1 seeded team of Jamie Hunt and Christian Vitulli, 8-6.
In the finals, Blackmon and Smith came from behind to beat their Jacket teammates 8-5. The two teams went back and forth but Blackmon and Smith pulled away in the end.
“I am very pleased with our doubles play this weekend,” Thorne said. “It is great that we won but I was really happy how the guys took what we have been working on the past two weeks and used it against their opponents.”
Senior David North and Gomez finished up their weekend in the doubles consolation bracket with an 8-3 win over Pawel Dilaj and Terence Nugent.
“It was good to see David on the court,” Thorne added. “He just got better and better in each match he played. Next we would like to get him out there to play some singles matches.”
The Jackets will continue their season next Friday, October 12 at the University of South Carolina tournament in Columbia, S.C.
“A” Singles Bracket
(F) Guillermo Gomez (GT) d. Jamie Hunt (UGA), 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
“B” Singles Consolation Bracket
(F) Nick Maurillo (Auburn) d. George Gvelesiani (GT), 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
“A” Doubles Bracket
(SF) Blackmon/Smith (GT) d. Bernstein/Varela (UGA), 8-4
(SF) M. Muguruza/Potvin (GT) d. Hunt/Vitulli (UGA), 8-6
(F) Blackmon/Smith (GT) d. M. Muguruza/Potvin (GT), 8-5
“A” Doubles Consolation Bracket
(SF) North/Guillermo (GT) d. Dilaj/Nugent (Auburn), 8-3
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