May 26, 2010
ATHENS, Ga. – Irish sophomore Casey Watt (Gibsonia, Pa./ Pine-Richland) was defeated by UCLA senior Haythem Abid 6-3, 7-6 in NCAA singles championship first round action on Wednesday afternoon at the University of Georgia’s Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.
Abid started fast and captured the first set, 6-3. He kept the momentum rolling early in the second set and jumped ahead of Watt, 4-1. But Watt battled back by winning the next two games to make it 4-3. The players then held serve in each of the next five games, running the score to 6-6. But Abid was able to close out the match with a second set tiebreak win to advance to the second round.
Watt, who was one of 20 underclassmen in the 64-player field, was making his first career appearance at the event. He finished the 2009-10 season with a 20-20 overall record, while Abid improved to 8-7 on the year.
NCAA Singles Championship (First Round)
#53 Haythem Abid def. #51 Casey Watt 6-3, 7-6
–ND–