Jan. 25, 2014
THE FLATS – Nathan Rakitt came from behind in the third set of his singles match to win the clinching point on court one, and Georgia Tech led wire-to-wire in knocking off No. 71 North Florida, 4-2, Saturday afternoon at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
Rakitt’s 6-4, 5-6 (10-12), 6-5 (7-4) defeat of North Florida’s Nortbert Nemscek at the No. 1 singles spot concluded in spectacular fashion, with a 7-4 tiebreak completing his comeback after the Tech sophomore trailed in the decisive third set. Earlier, Casey Kay had beaten Goldberg at No. 5 in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, and Carlos Benito had outlasted Gomes at No.2, winning 4-6, 6-5 (8-6), 6-1, for the other two singles points.
Benito and junior Eduardo Segura won their third consecutive doubles match of the spring on court No. 1 to secure the doubles point for the Yellow Jackets, downing Nemscek and Jack Findel-Hawkins, 6-3. Sophomore Anish Sharma and freshman Cole Feigel had partnered to win 6-2 over Zach Goldberg and Pablo Tellez of North Florida on court No. 3.
“We really responded well to adversity,” said head coach Kenny Thorne. “I was really proud of the guys all the way down the line, how they were sometimes stuck in tough situations but fought their way out. It was a real team effort today.”
Tech improved to 3-0 for the spring, while North Florida fell to 1-2. The Yellow Jackets are back in action next Friday, Jan. 31, for a 5 p.m. dual match against 18th-ranked South Carolina at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex.
Georgia Tech 4, #71 North Florida 2Jan 25, 2014 at Atlanta, Ga. (Ken Byers Tennis Complex)
Singles competition 1. Nathan Rakitt (GT) def. Norbert Nemcsek (UNF) 6-4, 5-6 (10-12), 6-5 (7-4) 2. Carlos Benito (GT) def. Caio Gomes (UNF) 4-6, 6-5 (8-6), 6-1 3. Jack Findel-Hawkins (UNF) def. Eduardo Segura (GT) 6-4, 6-2 4. Yannick Zuern (UNF) def. Cole Fiegel (GT) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 5. Casey Kay (GT) def. Zachary Goldberg (UNF) 6-3, 6-3 6. Anish Sharma (GT) vs. Pablo Tellez (UNF) 6-5 (7-1), 2-6, 3-3, unfinished
Doubles competition 1. Carlos Benito/Eduardo Segura (GT) def. Norbert Nemcsek/Jack Findel-Hawkins (UNF) 6-3 2. Caio Gomes/Yannick Zuern (UNF) def. Nathan Rakitt/Casey Kay (GT) 6-3 3. Cole Fiegel/Anish Sharma (GT) def. Pablo Tellez/Zachary Goldberg (UNF) 6-2
Match Notes: Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,3,2,4,1) Match played indoors
