Tide?s Thibaudeau Earns First Career Win
1/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Tide’s Thibaudeau Earns First Career Win
Saturday, January 21, 2006
LEXINGTON, Ky. ?? Alabama freshman Mathieu Thibaudeau collected his first collegiate victory Saturday at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Tennis Championships by defeating LSU’s Jose Moncado in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6(5).
The match was just Thibaudeau’s second collegiate match since joining the team two weeks ago.
The win matched Thibaudeau up with UGA’s Ricardo Gonzalez, who defeated Alabama’s Taylor Striplin earlier in the day. After dropping the first set, Thibaudeau fought back to win the second set and even the match at one set apiece. Each player matched each other point-for-point in the third set before Gonzalez finally claimed the win 7-5.
“I’m proud of how Matt hung in there today,” Alabama head coach Billy Pate said. “Six weeks ago he had an operation and because of that, I’m pleased with his efforts. He’ll be a good player for us this year.”
In the main singles draw, junior Joseph Jung played in the Round of 32 against one of the nation’s top players, Antonio Ruiz of Georgia. Jung claimed the opening set but Ruiz was able to gather himself and win the final two sets to claim the win.
“Joe had a great effort against a great player,” Pate said. “In all this was a good weekend for us and now we’ll prepare ourselves for next weekend’s opener.”
Alabama will open its dual-match season next Sunday when it plays host to Furman at 10 a.m. and Troy at 3 p.m. Both matches will be played indoors at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility. Admission is free.
Consolation singles
Mathieu Thibaudeau(UA) d. Jose Moncado (LSU) - 6-1, 7-6 (5)
Ricardo Gonzalez (UGA) d. Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA), 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Ricardo Gonzalez (UGA) d. Taylor Striplin (UA), 6-1, 6-3
Main draw singles
Antonio Ruiz (UGA) d. Joseph Jung (UA), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
