Esteban, Mena make splash at ITA All-America Pre-Qualifying; Tech plays on two fronts
The Tennessee Tech tennis team played on two fronts this weekend, posting wins in Tulsa, Okla., at the ITA All-American Pre-Qualifying tournament, as well as the Steve Baras Classic in Chattanooga.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team played on two fronts this weekend, posting wins in Tulsa, Okla., at the ITA All-American Pre-Qualifying tournament, as well as the Steve Baras Classic in Chattanooga.
In Tulsa, two Golden Eagle players not only notched first-round victories to advance, they also won their second contest in the Round of 128 at the ITA All-America pre-qualifying event.
In Chattanooga, rain forced play indoors Saturday and shortened the draws at the Baras Classic, hosted by UT Chattanooga, but not before Tech players were able to notch some wins.
At the ITA All-American Pre-Qualifying
Tech's three top players got the chance to play with some of the nation's best at the Tulsa tournament, where both Alberto Esteban and Eduardo Mena earned a pair of wins.
Esteban defeated Drake's Vincent Gillespie in three sets, winning 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, and followed by defeating sixth-seeded Jonny Rigby of SIU-Carbondale Sunday morning in the Round of 128. He claimed that one in three sets, as well, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Esteban was eliminatd by Jefta Kecic of Western Michigan Sunday, 6-2, 6-0.
Mena posted a 6-3, 6-0, straight set victory over Jeff Clark of Texas A&M in his first action, then claimed a straight set win over Matt Cowley of Utah, 7-5, 6-2. Cristobal Rivera of Loyola Marymount eliminated Mena, but not before the Tech sophomore pushed him to three sets before falling. Rivera won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Tech's other entry at the ITA event, Alex Arovin, was downed by Kyle Dunn of Vanderbilt, 6-1, 6-3, moving him to the consolation round where he captured a 6-4, 6-3, straight set victory over Sam Giammalva of Texas A&M.
At the Steve Baras Classic
Alvaro Cintas and Jorge Alfonzo each claimed first-round wins at Chattanooga before ending their run with losses and 1-1 records.
In doubles play, the Tech duo of Junior Guerrero and Yusuke Yodono grabbed a 6-3 win over Eastern Kentucky team of Florian Graskamp and Alberto Tintore before falling and finishing with a 1-1 mark.
Complete results from Chattanooga for Tech players
A singles draw
Alvaro Cintas def. Luke Saunders (UTC), 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (5)
Cintas lost to Alex Alvaro (EKU), 6-2, 6-4
B singles draw
Jorge Alfonzo def. Nicolas Guillon (Mercer), 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (8)
Alfonzo lost to Robin Demasse (Belmont), 6-4, 0-6, 1-0 (7)
C singles draw
Carlos Tajes lost to Guillermo Artiz Mateo (MTSU), 6-2, 6-4
Tajes def. Diogo Soares, (EKU), 6-2, 6-4
D singles draw
Gagan Jain lost to Florian Graskamp (EKU), 6-1, 6-0
Jain lost to Steven Goldman (Belmont), 6-3, 6-4
E singles draw
Junior Guerrero lost to Derrick Brown (UTC), 6-4, 6-4
Guerrero lost to Alberto Tintore (EKU), 7-5, 6-3
F singles draw
Yusuke Yododo lost to Michael Birnbaum (UTC), 6-4, 6-1
Yodono lost to Jordan Mark (Mercer), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (7)
A doubles draw
Alvaro Cintas/Jorge Alfonzo lost to Ramon van Flymen/Alex Alvaro (EKU), 6-3
Cintas/Alfonzo lost to Sam Slade/Jorge Wilton (KSU), 6-4
B doubles draw
Gagan Jain/Carlos Tajes lost to Cedric Dejacquier/Steven Goldman (Belmont), 6-2
Jain/Tajes lost to Diogo Soares/Indra Patwardham (EKU), 7-5
C doubles draw
Junior Guerrero/Yusuke Yodono def. Florian Graskamp/Alberto Tintore (EKU), 6-4
Guerrero/Yodono lost to Nicolas Guillon/Fernando Guardia (Mercer), 6-2
