via onlineathens.com
The undefeated No. 4 Bulldogs knew they'd have their work cut out for them as they hosted No. 29 Georgia Tech yesterday at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Facility of the Dan Magill Tennis Center. Last year, Tech won for the first time since 1988 and only the second time since 1969, but the North Avenue Trade School is offering an excellent team again this year, coming to town on a three-match winning streak. Last year's heartbreaking 4-3 loss was avenged this year as the Bulldogs beat the Yellow Jackets 7-0.
A major part of the Jackets' strength rests with the doubles team of Kevin King and Juan Spir, ranked second nationally. King and Spir also are the Jackets' 1 and 2 singles players, with King ranked ninth nationally. This was expected to be the toughest challenge yet for the Bulldogs.
When the doubles matches began, the Tech pair of King and Spir showed they deserved their lofty ranking by taking care of Georgia's #1 doubles pair of Garrett Brasseaux and Wil Spencer (No. 8 nationally) by a score of 8-2. At the 3 court, the Bulldogs pulled even when Nathan Pasha and Ignacio Taboada defeated Dusan Miljevic and Eduardo Segura 8-3. Meanwhile, at No. 2 doubles, the Jackets' Juan Melian and Vikram Hundal played it close against Sadio Doumbia and Hernus Pieters before the Dawgs pulled away for an 8-4 win, giving UGA the doubles point and a 1-0 over all lead. Next up, singles.
Our #1 singles player, Spencer, sat out singles play for the third consecutive match, apparently due to some minor but nagging injury issues. The pre-match lineup had to be altered as everyone else moved up a spot, and Campbell Johnson was called off the bench to play at No. 6. The team would have to play at top form. They did.
Because the match was indoors, only four singles matches could get started, with the remaining two beginning when courts became available. Georgia took the first four sets, as Doumbia (moving up to take the No. 1 spot), KU Singh, Taboada, and Pieters bested their Yellow Jacket counterparts. All four went on to take their matches in straight sets: Pieters over Miljevic 6-4, 62; Singh defeated Spir 6-4, 7-5; Taboada defeated Melian 6-4, 6-4 (clinching the team victory by plating the fourth of seven runs to Tech's zero); and Doumbia taking down Tech's top player, King, 6-3, 6-4.
Completing the shutout were Campbell, defeating Tech's Sebastian Lopez 6-3, 6-1 and showing the quality of the Dawgs' depth, and Pasha, who came out on top of a grueling battle with Segura 6-7 (8-6), 6-4, 1-0 (12-10). I suppose it would be magnanimous to offer a tip of the hat to Segura who fought valiantly for his team in an unsuccessful effort to avoid the goose egg when it might have been mentally easier to call it a day (since it was, for his team, already a day).
It is an immense pleasure to defeat Tech at anything. It is especially satisfying to do it in such a decisive way and with a makeshift lineup. I followed the live chat, available for most if not all matches (along with live scoring), for a lot of the match. The UGA commentator suggested that Coach Diaz was not through mixing and matching the lineup, including doubles teams. The running commentary is worth your time if you have some to spare and can't make it to the courts. The chat hostess remarked that Coach Magill, who was sitting near her, said as the doubles matches were coming to a close that he missed the days when each doubles match counted as a point instead of being combined as a best-of-three single point. Magill's passion for Georgia and for the rivalry with Tech was apparent. I had to smile.
The Bulldogs departed Athens this morning for the ITA National Team Indoor Championship at UVA, where they'll have a practice day tomorrow and face No. 13 California Friday at noon. Other SEC squads making the trip to join the field of 16 are Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, and Auburn, but look to UGA, Southern Cal, UVA, and Ohio State to make the most noise on the courts.
Wreck Tech! and
GO DAWGS!
0 recs | 10 comments
Already very pumped for the Tennis National Championships returning to Athens in May
always a blast
Dawg in Beaumont - February 15, 2012
I know I've mentioned it before, but
Back in the day (late 1980s), we had fraternity block seating during the NCAA tournament and some people sneaked whiskey into the matches. And yes, we barked our fool heads off. THIS AIN’T WIMBLEDON, SON!
NCT - February 15, 2012
Won 51 of the last 53 against Tech...Go Dogs
I never understood why they changed the scoring on the double to a single point instead of each match counting a point. does anyone understand the reasoning?
Also, for the youngsters in the audience, the doubles used to be played after the singles. I liked that format better but then again I’m a living fossil who doesn’t like change of any kind very much.
I also enjoyed the chat during the match…..since it otherwise a bit difficult to follow the team from here in the Nebraska Territory
Vietnam Dog - February 15, 2012
I have no clue as to the reasoning behind awarding a single point for the three doubles matches.
I wonder if the ITA Men’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame has archives of things like rule changes — I mean, other than the living archive who serves as the Hall’s curator.
NCT - February 15, 2012
if I had to guess
I would say that its a combination of the gradual eroding of doubles place in tennis within the professional ranks (they’ve basically bent over backwards to get the top singles players to play doubles by shortening matches, no ad scoring, etc.) probably combined with the coaches wanting to spend more coaching time with singles.
It was moved to the beginning because in a 7 point match, it would be irrelevant in most meets. Those are just guesses.
Mark Mandingo - February 15, 2012 via mobile
Good points, especially about the purpose for moving it to the beginning.
I suppose it’s sort of a trade-off. Each match diminishes in importance by combining the three into a single point, but that having been done, doubles is elevated a bit by making it a more meaningful point up front.
NCT - February 15, 2012
if you look at it through double loving glasses
College tennis has actually kept doubles at a higher status than the pro game has. Doubles is largely seen as a financial drain there. The big names don’t want to sacrifice energy and health in most cases. Doubles is less money and less prestige (quick! who won mixed doubles at Wimbledon). Doubles has become a specialty event that attracts doubles dedicated teams. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it doesn’t generate interest (money). And last but not least, doubles can be difficult to follow on TV. You don’t have as many long rallys and its a very quick style.
In college, there’s not much money or interest. Its rarely on TV and the folks that do watch it are either die hard tennis fans or die hard college sports fans. The die hard college fans enjoy it when their school is playing. They’re entertained with Ws. Style of play doesn’t matter as much.
Mark Mandingo - February 15, 2012 via mobile
As mixed doubles is a country club sport - I would think we would rock at it.
tankertoad - February 15, 2012
makes sense
Keeping doubles important in collegiate tennis also helps maintain the importance of the team concept. And it also makes it especially taxing once we get to NCAA tournament time when we have separate brackets for team, singles, and doubles.
NCT - February 15, 2012 via iPhone app
That makes perfect sense..thanks MM
Vietnam Dog - February 15, 2012
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