March 21, 2014
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech won four singles matches in straight sets and won the doubles point despite playing a man down Friday evening and won its first Atlantic Coast Conference match of the spring, 6-1, over Boston College at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
Tech improved to 7-6 overall and 1-2 in the ACC despite competing with just five players, beginning the match with a loss at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. The Eagles dropped to 4-7 overall, 0-3 in the ACC. The Eagles gained their only point of the contest through the unplayed singles match on court No. 6, which Georgia Tech forfeited by not fielding a player.
Beginning play down one in the best-of-three doubles segment due to the identical forfeit at the No. 3 doubles proved to not be a problem for the Jackets. Sophomore Nathan Rakitt and freshman Cole Fiegel, ranked 63rd in the nation, outlasted the Eagle pairing of Jonathan Raude and Alexandre Thirouin, 8-7 at No. 2. The 20th-ranked Tech team of freshman Carlos Benito and junior Eduardo Segura sealed the doubles point with a 8-6 triumph over Philip Nelso and Matt Wagner on court 1.
With the match tied 1-1 after the forfeit at No. 6 singles, the Yellow Jackets soon reclaimed the lead when Benito, who made short work of the Eagles’ Hank Workman with a 6-1, 6-2 win on court 3. Rakitt then added to the Jacket lead with his 6-3, 6-4 victory on court No. 1 against Nelson.
The race to clinch the overall win for Tech was then won by Fiegel, as he outgunned Aiden McNulty 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) at No. 4. Fellow freshman Will Showers followed by beating Matt Wagner moments later 6-2, 6-3 on court No. 5.
Even with the match secured for Tech, Segura claimed a win for himself in the longest match of the day by besting Raude 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 10-5. The junior’s win meant Tech did not lose a match that was played on the day.
The Yellow Jackets return to the court Sunday, March 23, taking on Notre Dame at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex in Atlanta.
Georgia Tech 6, Boston College 1
Mar 21, 2014 at Atlanta, Ga. (Ken Byers Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. Nathan Rakitt (GT) def. Philip Nelson (BC) 6-3, 6-4
2. Eduardo Segura (GT) def. Jonathan Raude (BC) 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 10-5
3. Carlos Benito (GT) def. Hank Workman (BC) 6-1, 6-2
4. Cole Fiegel (GT) def. Aiden McNulty (BC) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Will Showers (GT) def. Matt Wagner (BC) 6-2, 6-3
6. Kyle Childree (BC) won by default
Doubles competition
1. #20 Carlos Benito/Eduardo Segura (GT) def. Philip Nelson/Matt Wagner (BC) 8-6
2. #63 Nathan Rakitt/Cole Fiegel (GT) def. Jonathan Raude/Alexandre Thirouin (BC) 8-7 (7-3)
3. Hank Workman/Kyle Childree (BC) won by default
Match Notes
Boston College 4-7, 0-3 ACC; Georgia Tech 7-6, 1-2 ACC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,3,1,4,5,2)
