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Aztecs falter in singles after winning doubles point
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo: Milen Ianakiev was a double winner on Saturday vs. USD. Courtesy goaztecs.com
February 4, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego State men’s tennis team captured the early doubles point, but was unable to maintain the momentum in singles play before ultimately suffering a 4-2 setback against the University of San Diego in a non-conference dual match at Aztec Tennis Center.
With the loss, SDSU (1-3) experienced its third straight defeat and second at home, while the Toreros improve to 3-1 on the season.
The Aztecs found themselves in a fiercely contested doubles round, but the freshman tandem of Joel Popov (Tampere, Finland) and Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (Madrid, Spain) rose to the occasion with a 6-4 triumph over Gui Osorio and Alexanderos Araouzos in the No. 3 position. However, the duo of Marko Goles-Babic (Zagreb, Croatia) and Sander Gjoels-Andersen (Klampenborg, Denmark) were not as fortunate at the USD combo of Josh Page and Filip Vittek prevailed by a 7-5 in the No. 1 spot. All eyes soon turned toward the No. 2 court where the pairing of Santiago Cevallos (Queretaro, Mexico) and Milen Ianakiev (Elz, Hesse, Germany) outlasted Guus Koevermans and Joel Gamerov in a nail-biter, 7-6(5).
SDSU could not duplicate its magic in singles as the Toreros fought back to take four of the six encounters. After Cevallos came up short to Gamerov at No. 4 in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, the Aztecs momentarily reclaimed the lead on the team scoreboard, 2-1, following Ianakiev’s 6-4, 6-4 conquest of Vittek on the No. 1 court.
However, SDSU simply ran out of steam at this juncture, with USD claiming the ensuing three matches to seal the win. Popov fell victim to Osorio, 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 5 position, while Gonzalez Almazan dropped a heartbreaker to Araouzos in the sixth spot, 6-3, 7-6(5).
After Gjoels-Andersen yielded to Page on court No. 3, 7-5, 6-4, the Toreros tallied the requisite fourth team point and the battle between Goles-Babic and Koevermans at No. 2 was abandoned midway through the third set.
San Diego State will look to regroup next weekend when it faces three non-conference opponents on consecutive days at Aztec Tennis Center: Northern Arizona (Feb. 10), UC Irvine (Feb. 11) and UC Davis (Feb. 12).
San Diego 4, San Diego State 2
Aztec Tennis Center
San Diego, Calif.
Feb. 4, 2017
Doubles
1. Josh Page/Filip Vittek (USD) def. Marko Goles-Babic/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU), 7-5
2. Santiago Cevallos/Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) def. Guus Koevermans/Joel Gamerov (USD), 7-6(5)
3. Joel Popov/Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU) def. Gui Osorio/Alexanderos Araouzos (USD), 6-4
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
SDSU wins doubles point
Singles
1. Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) def. Filip Vittek (USD), 6-4, 6-4
2. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) vs. Guus Koevermans (USD), 3-6, 6-3, 4-2, DNF
3. Josh Page (USD) def. Sander Gjoels Andersen (SDSU), 7-5, 6-4
4. Joel Gamerov (USD) def. Santiago Cevallos (SDSU), 6-3, 6-2
5. Gui Osorio (USD) def. Joel Popov (SDSU), 6-4, 6-3
6. Alexanderos Araouzos (USD) def. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU), 6-3, 7-6(5)
Order of finish: 4, 1, 5, 6, 3*
* - Match-clinching victory
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