Oct. 3, 2011
Tulsa, Okla. – Georgia Tech’s Kevin King and Juan Melian Puigventos both advanced Monday with first-round victories in the ITA All-American Championships qualifying tournament.
King, a senior from Peachtree City, Ga., ranked 85th in the nation, downed Auburn’s Daniel Cochrane in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. Melian, a junior transfer from Georgia Southern who is ranked 97th, rallied from a first-set loss to eliminate California’s Christoffer Konigsfeldt (No. 79), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The ITA qualifying draw has 128 players competing for 16 spots in the 64-player main draw, which begins Thursday. Second-round play in the qualifying draw is Tuesday, and Melian Puigventos will face Alberto Bautista of Texas A&M. King’s opponent had not completed his match at of 7 p.m. Monday.
Melian Puigventos is also in the qualifying draw in doubles, paired with senior teammate Dusan Miljevic. They have a bye in Tuesday’s opening round and will play their second-round match Tuesday afternoon at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time.
