PHOTO CREDIT: ITA TENNIS
TULSA, Okla. – Gonzales Austin won the match of the tournament earlier today to advance to the semifinals of the 2013 Saint Francis ITA All-American Championships.
“AJ [Austin] played an absolutely unbelievable match,” said VU assistant coach Jamie Hunt. “He showed so much fight and heart out on the court today. I am extremely proud of the way he played out there.”
The junior matched up against Austin Smith from Georgia for the third time in this fall season. Smith, had won his previous six matches to advance through the qualifying draw all the way to the main draw quarters.
Austin and Smith battled back and fourth for nearly four hours, in what played out to be the match of the tournament.
Austin, the Miami native, was able to win the first 7-6 by breezing through the tie-break 7-2. Smith would answer back in the second set taking the tie-break 7-5. The match would come to an end almost four hours later as Austin took the final set 7-6, winning the tie-break, 7-5.
The semifinal matchup with showcase No. 35 Austin against No. 36 Guillermo Alcorta of Oklahoma. The winner will face No. 15 Mitchell Frank of Virginia in Sunday’s final.
STORY UPDATE: Alcorta def. Austin, 6-0, 6-3 in the semifinals. Alcorta will advance to the finals against Frank of UVA.
