Oct. 5, 2011
TULSA, Okla. – Charlie Jones played a marathon third round of the qualifying singles match against Georgia Tech’s Juan Melian Puigventos, a nearly four hour match which saw the Vanderbilt senior win in three sets over a fellow ranked opponent.
The two dueled their way through the first two sets, with Jones winning the first by 7-6(5). After dropping the second set 6-7(5), Jones took the third 6-3 to win the match.
“Charlie is leaving his mark on this program as one of the best competitors that has ever put on the black and gold,” said assistant coach Jamie Hunt of his senior Commodore.
In the preseason Division I Men’s Singles rankings, Jones is the No. 102 overall; Puigventos is 97.
“There were a ton of points where I thought I was going to win and it didn’t happen. At the end I was trying to play it one play at a time,” said Jones. “He was a good player, and at this level it’s going to be who is the fittest and toughest at the end and it was me today.”
Jones will play in the main draw Thursday at noon against Ohio State’s Devin McCarthy. Fellow Commodore, freshman Gonzales Austin, dropped his match against Georgia Tech’s Kevin King, who beat him 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.
