University of Georgia Athletics
Bertran Delivers For Bulldogs In NCAAs
May 08, 2015 | Men's Tennis
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
ATHENS, Ga. -- Peter Bertran didn't play like a freshman Friday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, and certainly not like someone that has been on the bench for most of the spring.
In just his fourth appearance in a dual match this season, Bertran clinched the eighth-seeded Georgia Bulldogs' 4-0 win over Winthrop in the first round of the NCAA men's tennis tournament. Playing at No. 6 singles in place of Paul Oosterbaan, Bertran was sharp and solid in his 6-4, 6-2 win over Michael Chen.
"It's definitely a great feeling to clinch for the first time, and to even be here in the first round of the NCAAs," said Bertran, a native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, who graduated from North Oconee High School near Athens.
Georgia coach Manuel Diaz said he played Bertran on Friday to give him some match action and to give Oosterbaan, a 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman, some rest. Oosterbaan played doubles with Eric Diaz against the Eagles at No. 3 and has been the Dogs' mainstay at No. 6 singles for most of the season, going 13-3 (8-0 in SEC play).
"We don't drop any with (Bertran) in the lineup," Diaz said. "Peter's comfortable out there and he was ready for a big match. ... He's so diligent in practice and prepares well, so I knew he'd be ready."
Beltran last played in a match on April 9, against Arkansas. Of the four dual matches he's played this season, he's won two and the other two were stopped after Georgia had clinched the team victory. If he'd built up any rust on the bench, it didn't show Friday. He looked match fit, both physically and mentally, from start to finish.
"I always try to do some extra stuff (after practice) since I'm not playing," he said. "I've been working really hard and today I felt great, even though it was really hot.
After getting an early break in the first set, Bertran took care of business on his serve the rest of the way. Early in the the second set of Bertran's match, Nathan Pasha won at No. 3 singles to put Georgia up 2-0. Soon after, Bertran broke serve at 2-all when Chen missed a short ball long on break point.
Moments later, Nick Wood made it 3-0 Georgia with a win at No. 5. It was then a race to see which of the Bulldogs would clinch. Beltran held to go up 4-2 and then broke Chen again for the chance to serve out the match and get the clinch.
Chen took the first two points of the ensuing game before Bertran caught a break at 0-30, getting a lucky ace on a serve that hit the top of the net and dribbled over to Chen's side. In a very polite match in which both players were quick to compliment the other's good shots, Bertran held up his racquet after the ace and said, "Sorry. Sorry, man."
A missed forehand by Bertran gave Chen a pair of break points, both of which the Bulldog dismissed -- first with a forehand cross-court winner and then with a lunging forehand volley winner. Beltran eventually closed out the win on his second match point, sending the Bulldogs into the second round, where they will face Florida State on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Of the eight players that saw action for Georgia in the first round, three were freshmen. Oosterbaan won with Eric Diaz -- it was their first match ever together -- at No. 3 doubles, Bertran won at No. 6 and star freshman Wayne Montgomery won with Pasha at No. 2 doubles and was leading 7-5, 4-0 at No. 1 singles when Bertran clinched.
John Frierson is a staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Hall of Fame at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. You can follow him on Twitter: @TheFrierson and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
