Jan. 20, 2002
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Georgia Tech sophomore tennis player Joao Menano picked up the biggest win of his young career on Sunday, as he captured the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tennis indoor main draw championship for the first time in his career. The three-day event was held at the Wake Forest Indoor Tennis Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. The tournament featured a number of the top players from around the ACC.
Menano’s tournament run concluded on Sunday with the semifinal round, as he faced Yellow Jacket teammate and second-seeded Roger Anderson, winning in straight sets. The second-year performer won the first set quite easily, rolling to a 6-1 decision, before battling in the second set to claim a 7-5 win. The championship match would not be as easy, with Menano needing three sets to defeat Andy Metzler of North Carolina. Metzler jumped on top early, winning the first set at 6-0. Menano then battled back in the second set, winning in a tiebreak, 7-6 (6). That was all that Menano needed to get going, as he won the final set in a decisive fashion, by a 6-2 score.
On Saturday, Menano opened play in the third round by downing Bartosz Koldeg of Florida State by a 6-1, 6-1 score and followed that by defeating Nicholas Monroe of North Carolina, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
Tech’s other singles competitor that was able to advance was sophomore West Nott, who reached the finals of the consolation draw, before the conclusion of that event was canceled. Nott opened play on Sunday by defeating Jared Owens of Florida State in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. Nott followed that performance by eliminating Stephen Nolen of Virginia by a solid 6-1, 6-3 score. He was to have faced Derrick Spice of Wake Forest had the final been played.
In doubles play, Tech’s tandem of Roger Anderson and David Wright had reached the semifinals of the doubles draw, after Duke’s team of Shults and Zimmerman withdrew, but were unable to get past FSU’s duo of Laub and Luscan, falling by a 6-8 score.
Georgia Tech will now have a week off before it begins the dual-match season with a trip to Pepperdine on January 25. Full results from the ACC Indoor Championships are available at www.wakeforestsports.com.
