University of Georgia Athletics
Luis Flores Captures SEC Indoor Singles Championship
January 21, 2008 | Men's Tennis
NEW ORLEANS, La. --- Senior Luis Flores (Xalapa, Mexico) of the No. 2-ranked University of Georgia men’s tennis team, won the 2008 SEC Coaches’ Indoor Championship in New Orleans Monday. Flores defeated Ivan Bjelica of Mississippi State in three sets, 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4.
“This was a great victory today by Luis,” said Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz. “And it was another great tournament for our program. In the long tradition of this tournament our players have consistently performed well and this year was no exception. I think this was a great way for our team to start the year, we will certainly be a lot better prepared going into this weekend’s dual matches. We are playing with confidence and we are excited to get the team portion of our season underway.”
In the opening set, the No. 4-seeded Flores gained an early advantage as he broke Bjelica’s serve in the third game of the match, taking a 2-1 edge. The players traded service holds over the next three games, before Flores broke Bjelica once again to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Bjelica regained some momentum in the next two games as he broke back and then held in the ninth game, cutting Flores’ advantage to 5-4. But, the Bulldog stepped up in the 10th and final game, holding serve to win the set and take command of the match.
In the second set, Bjelica squared the match at one set each with a tiebreak win, 7-6(2). The set began the exact same way as the first, with Flores going up 3-1 following a third-game service break and a hold in the fourth. However, after Bjelica held in the fifth to cut it to 3-2, he broke Flores’ serve to even the set at 3-3 through six games. From there, the two players traded six straight service holds to force the tiebreak set. Bjelica took over the tiebreak, winning it 7-2, to even the match at one set each.
The third set seemed destined to also end in a tiebreak as neither competitor was willing to relinquish a service game. After nine straight service holds, Flores held a 5-4 advantage with Bjelica coming up to try to extend the match. But the UGA senior showed poise and guts in the 10th game of the set, breaking Bjelica to win the set, the match and the 2008 SEC Coaches’ Indoor Championship.
“Luis came out aggressively in the first set, went ahead early and closed it out,” said Diaz. “Then he went up an early break again in the second but Ivan has been playing very, very well, and he was able to break back. He came on strong and made a big charge, then controlled the tiebreaker. But Luis continued to stay with it and at 4-4 in the third set he stepped up, played a little bit bigger and took control of the match for good.”
After taking the fall off to play professional tournaments as an amateur, this was Flores' first collegiate action of his senior year. Flores' road to the championship was as follows:
Round of 32 - def. Tyler Hochwalt (UF) 6-4, 6-4
Round of 16 - def. Bram ten Berge (UM) 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3
Quarterfinals - def. Michael Venus (LSU) 6-2, 6-0
Semifinals - def. Nate Schnugg (UGA) 6-3, 6-4
Finals - def. Ivan Bjelica (MSU) 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4
With the win, Flores carries on Georgia’s recent tradition of great success at this event. The Bulldogs have now won at least one singles or doubles title at this event in four consecutive years:
2008 Luis Flores, Singles A’ Draw Champion
2007 Travis Helgeson, Singles A’ Draw Champion (def. teammate John Isner)
2007 Ricardo Gonzalez, Singles B’ Draw Champion
2006 Luis Flores and Matic Omerzel, Doubles Champions (def. teammates John Isner and Antonio Ruiz)
2005 John Isner and Antonio Ruiz, Doubles Champions
Georgia’s Day 4 agate:
Monday, Jan. 21 RESULTS
Singles Flight A’ Championship:
[4] Luis Flores (UGA) def. Ivan Bjelica (MSU), 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4
“This was a great victory today by Luis,” said Georgia head coach Manuel Diaz. “And it was another great tournament for our program. In the long tradition of this tournament our players have consistently performed well and this year was no exception. I think this was a great way for our team to start the year, we will certainly be a lot better prepared going into this weekend’s dual matches. We are playing with confidence and we are excited to get the team portion of our season underway.”
In the opening set, the No. 4-seeded Flores gained an early advantage as he broke Bjelica’s serve in the third game of the match, taking a 2-1 edge. The players traded service holds over the next three games, before Flores broke Bjelica once again to take a commanding 5-2 lead. Bjelica regained some momentum in the next two games as he broke back and then held in the ninth game, cutting Flores’ advantage to 5-4. But, the Bulldog stepped up in the 10th and final game, holding serve to win the set and take command of the match.
In the second set, Bjelica squared the match at one set each with a tiebreak win, 7-6(2). The set began the exact same way as the first, with Flores going up 3-1 following a third-game service break and a hold in the fourth. However, after Bjelica held in the fifth to cut it to 3-2, he broke Flores’ serve to even the set at 3-3 through six games. From there, the two players traded six straight service holds to force the tiebreak set. Bjelica took over the tiebreak, winning it 7-2, to even the match at one set each.
The third set seemed destined to also end in a tiebreak as neither competitor was willing to relinquish a service game. After nine straight service holds, Flores held a 5-4 advantage with Bjelica coming up to try to extend the match. But the UGA senior showed poise and guts in the 10th game of the set, breaking Bjelica to win the set, the match and the 2008 SEC Coaches’ Indoor Championship.
“Luis came out aggressively in the first set, went ahead early and closed it out,” said Diaz. “Then he went up an early break again in the second but Ivan has been playing very, very well, and he was able to break back. He came on strong and made a big charge, then controlled the tiebreaker. But Luis continued to stay with it and at 4-4 in the third set he stepped up, played a little bit bigger and took control of the match for good.”
After taking the fall off to play professional tournaments as an amateur, this was Flores' first collegiate action of his senior year. Flores' road to the championship was as follows:
Round of 32 - def. Tyler Hochwalt (UF) 6-4, 6-4
Round of 16 - def. Bram ten Berge (UM) 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3
Quarterfinals - def. Michael Venus (LSU) 6-2, 6-0
Semifinals - def. Nate Schnugg (UGA) 6-3, 6-4
Finals - def. Ivan Bjelica (MSU) 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4
With the win, Flores carries on Georgia’s recent tradition of great success at this event. The Bulldogs have now won at least one singles or doubles title at this event in four consecutive years:
2008 Luis Flores, Singles A’ Draw Champion
2007 Travis Helgeson, Singles A’ Draw Champion (def. teammate John Isner)
2007 Ricardo Gonzalez, Singles B’ Draw Champion
2006 Luis Flores and Matic Omerzel, Doubles Champions (def. teammates John Isner and Antonio Ruiz)
2005 John Isner and Antonio Ruiz, Doubles Champions
Georgia’s Day 4 agate:
Monday, Jan. 21 RESULTS
Singles Flight A’ Championship:
[4] Luis Flores (UGA) def. Ivan Bjelica (MSU), 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-4
Saturday, May 02
Friday, May 01
Friday, April 17
Friday, April 17