Oct. 5, 2011
Tulsa, Okla. – Georgia Tech’s Kevin King downed Vanderbilt’s Gonzales Austin in three sets Wednesday in the ITA All-American Championships qualifying tournament, and has advanced to join teammate Juan Spir in the main draw of the championship beginning Thursday.
The ITA qualifying draw began with 128 players competing for 16 spots in the 64-player main draw. Spir, a junior ranked 34th in the nation, received entry into the main draw by his national ranking. The bracket for the final stage will be announced late Wednesday.
“All three of the guys I played are pretty solid players,” said King, who defeated a freshman from Duke Tuesday and a sophomore from Auburn Monday, both in straight sets. “My first goal going into this was getting through qualifying, and now I have a chance to face some great players in the main draw. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
The senior from Peachtree City, Ga., ranked 85th in the nation, cruised 6-0 in the first set of his third-round qualifying match with Gonzales Austin of Vanderbilt, dropped the second, 4-6, then put away the Commodore freshman, 6-2 in the third.
“I came out playing pretty well and got up early,” said King. He stepped up in the second set, we went back and forth. In the third, we had a lot of long games. I mixed up a few things and keep attacking him. I got a break at 3-2, and used that momentum to finish it out.”
Juan Melian Puigventos, a junior transfer from Georgia Southern who is ranked 97th, saw fell short in his quest to make the main draw Wednesday, dropping a three-set match, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, to the Commodores’ Charlie Jones.
