Alabama
USTA Men's Invitational (Opponent TBD)
John Lewis Wins USTA Invitational Singles III Finals
9/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 21, 2008
FLUSHING, N.Y. - Men's tennis freshman John Lewis won the singles III flight finals Sunday at the USTA National Tennis Center Men's College Invitational. Lewis beat Penn's Adam Schwartz in three sets 6-7, 6-1, 6-4.
"We had another positive weekend and had the opportunity to play some good matches against solid competition," said head coach Billy Pate. "I'm proud of John for doing so well in his first tournament. He will only get better, so it bodes well as he continues to work hard and progress during the year."
Over the course of the three-day event, Lewis beat four competitors from four different Ivy League institutions. On the opening day, he advanced past Brown's Sam Garland 7-6(5), 6-1 in the round of 16 and Connor Dawson of Yale 7-5, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Saturday's semifinals matchup pinned Lewis against Harvard's Michael Hayes where Lewis advanced to the finals behind a 6-1, 7-6 performance.
In Sunday's final, Lewis was edged in the first set 7-6, but came back strong to take the second 6-1. In the third, and deciding set, Lewis rallied back from being down 4-1 to take the match and the tournament.
Michael Jung and No. 106 Billy Mertz also competed in one match each Sunday morning. Jung faced Harvard's Aba Omedele-Lucien where the Alabama senior lost 7-6, 6-1. Mertz took on Harvard's Hayes, who Lewis beat in the semifinals, and collected his second win of the event rolling past Hayes 6-2, 7-5.
The Invitational featured a total of seven singles flights with 16 competitors in each. There were three doubles flights also made up of 16 pairs per flight.
The men's tennis team continues fall competition Sept. 26-28 when it travels three to the HEB Baylor Intercollegiate Invitational in Waco, Texas.
FINAL RESULTS
Singles
John Lewis (UA) def. Adam Schwartz (UP) 6-7, 6-1, 6-4
No. 106 Billy Mertz (UA) def. Michael Hayes (HU) 6-2, 7-5
Aba Omedele-Lucien (HU) def. Michael Jung (UA) 7-6, 6-1
