AUBURN, Ala. — Georgia Tech men’s tennis lost their first match of the year — losing 4-1 to Auburn, bringing their record to 3-1 on Friday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
Despite the loss, the Yellow Jackets were led by dynamic doubles duo Phillip Gresk and Carlos Divar who defeated Tad Maclean and Brandon Laubser, 7-5.
“We had three match points in doubles and couldn’t convert,” said men’s tennis head coach Kenny Thorne. “Plenty of opportunities all around but credit to Auburn for taking care of their opportunities. We will have a good practice and then get ready for UGA.”
Divar won his singles match against Matteo DeVincentis by win through retirement. When the match was called Divar was leading 6-2, 2-1.
At the No. 2 singles, 69th-ranked Cole Gromley was unable to take down the Tigers’ Filippo Mora, falling in a tough, first-set tiebreaker, 7-6, before succumbing 6-4 in the second. Senior Andrew Li also dropped a hard-fought, first-set tiebreaker, 7-6 (1), before ultimately losing the second set, 6-3, to Tad Maclean, while Pablo Schelcher fell 6-1, 6-3 to Tim Dollman.
Playing clinch-clinch, the No. 3 singles match between Phillip Gresk and No. 77 Brandon Laubser went unfinished, however Gresk had won the second set, 6-2, after dropping the first set, 7-5. Junior Chris Yun also won the second set, 6-4, of his match against Auburn’s Michael Durham, but was unable to finish.
On Sunday, Feb. 3 the Jackets will be in Athens to face archrival, Georgia. Match play will begin at 1 p.m.
Singles
Carlos Divar (GT) def. Matteo DeVincentis (AUBURN) 6-2, 2-1, retired
Filippo Mora (AUBURN) def. #68 Cole Gromley (GT) 7-6, 6-4
#77 Brandon Laubser (AUBURN) vs. Phillip Gresk (GT) 7-5, 2-6, unfinished
Tad Maclean (AUBURN) def. Andrew Li (GT) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
Tim Dollman (AUBURN) def. Pablo Schelcher (GT) 6-1, 6-3
Michael Durham (AUBURN) vs. Chris Yun (GT) 6-3, 4-6, unfinished
Doubles
Carlos Divar/Phillip Gresk (GT) def. Tad Maclean/Brandon Laubser (AUBURN) 7-5
Matteo DeVincentis/Diego Chavarria (AUBURN) def. Cole Gromley/Pablo Schelcher (GT) 7-5
Filippo Mora/Tim Dollman (AUBURN) def. Zummy Bauer/Joseph Gandolfo (GT) 7-6 (7-5)
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