Nov. 5, 2015
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – Nathan Rakitt and Andrew Li pulled out victories in singles Thursday, while Georgia Tech split four singles matches and two doubles matches at the USTA Clay Court Invitational at the ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Tournament central (includes links to draws and ESPN3 coverage)
SINGLES – Rakitt, the No. 2 seed in the top (Gold) draw, lost his first set but rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Florida State’s Jose Gracias. Li, a freshman, grabbed a 7-6 (6), 6-4 win over Juan Troglia of South Alabama in the Garnet draw. Rakitt moves on to face Tuki Jacobs of South Alabama at 10:30 a.m. Friday, while Li will take on Central Florida’s Reece Acree at noon Friday in the round of 16.
“I thought that was one of [Rakitt’s] best matches of the fall,” said Tech coach Kenny Thorne. “[Gracia] is a very good player.”
Junior Cole Fiegel lost a three-set match to Louisville’s Jeffrey Brown in which all three sets went to tiebreakers. Brown won the match, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5). Sophomore Daniel Yun also lost his opening-round match to Central Florida’s Jose Sangroniz, the seventh seed. Fiegel will play Penn State’s Marc Collado in a consolation match at 8 a.m. Friday, while Yun faces a consolation match against Florida State’s Parker Evertsen at 9:30 a.m. Friday.
DOUBLES – Yun and Li won their opening round doubles match in the Garnet draw, defeating Stetson’s Laurynas Antropikas and Simon Julin, 8-6. They’ll face Florida State’s Jack Haffey and Michael Rinaldi in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon (4:30 p.m.). Fiegel and Rakitt dropped an 8-6 decision to Troy’s Pablo Moreno and Giovani Samaha in the Gold draw.
USTA CLAY COURT INVITATIONAL
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
FRIDAY RESULTS
Men’s Open Singles – Gold Draw
Round of 32 – Jeffrey Brown (Louisville) def. Cole Fiegel, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5)
Round of 32 – #101 Nathan Rakitt (2) def. Jose Gracia (Florida State), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Men’s Open Singles – Garnet Draw
Round of 32 – Andrew Li (4) def. Juan Troglia (South Alabama), 7-6 (6), 6-4
Round of 32 – Jose Sangroniz (Central Florida) def. Daniel Yun, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
Men’s Open Doubles – Gold Draw
Round of 16 – Pablo Moreno/Giovani Samaha (Troy) def. Cole Fiegel/Nathan Rakitt, 8-6
Men’s Open Doubles – Garnet Draw
Round of 16 – Andrew Li/Daniel Yun def. Laurynas Antropikas/Simon Julin (Stetson), 8-6
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION – Fourteen men’s and 17 women’s institutions will have players competing in singles and doubles throughout the weekend, with championship matches in all draws scheduled for Sunday. Play will be conducted at both the ESPN Wide World of Sports and Grand Cypress Resort Thursday and Friday, with the Wide World of Sports hosting all competition Saturday and Sunday. Competition Thursday and Sunday will be streamed live on ESPN3. The USTA Clay Court Invitational is the fifth event on Georgia Tech’s fall schedule, which concludes next weekend with the Bulldog Scramble in Athens. Sophomore Christopher Eubanks is not competing in either event after receiving an at-large berth in next week’s USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in Flushing, N.Y.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S TENNIS
Georgia Tech’s men’s tennis team is in its 18th year under head coach Kenny Thorne. The Yellow Jackets have played in the NCAA Championship 15 times. Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Tennis on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GT_MTEN). For more information on Tech men’s tennis, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
