Oct. 15, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Competing in the main singles and doubles draws at the USTA/ITA Regional Championships on Friday, the Notre Dame men’s tennis team put together a strong round to advance six individuals and three teams to the round of 32 that will be played on Saturday morning.
Picking up singles wins were No. 4 seed Casey Watt, Billy Pecor, Niall Fitzgerald, Wyatt McCoy, No. 11 seed Greg Andrews and No. 14 seed Samuel Keeton.
Watt (6-4,6-4), Andrews (6-3,6-3), Fitzgerald (6-4,7-6), McCoy (6-4,6-2) and Keeton (7-6,6-3) all earned straight-set wins, while Pecor rallied after dropping the first set to advance to the next round with a 1-6,6-3,7-5 victory over Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Felix Goepper.
Despite falling in the round of 64, freshman Douglas Barnard battled his way out of the qualifier draw to earn a spot in the main singles draw. Barnard topped Illinois State’s M. Appaneruvanda, 6-4,7-5, on Friday morning to earn one of the eight qualifier spots.
In doubles, No. 3 seed Fitzgerald and Spencer Talmadge received a bye to the round of 32. Elsewhere, the No. 15 seeded team of Pecor and Keeton advanced, 8-2, while the No. 9 seeded team of Watt and Andrews cruised to an 8-1 victory.
The round of 32 and the round of 16 will both be played on Saturday, with the rounds of eight and four on Sunday. The finals of the singles and doubles draws will be held on Monday.
–ND–