SUMTER, S.C. – For the first time in the NCAA Division II era, the Flagler College men's tennis program had a singles player in the final round of the ITA Division II Southeast Regional. Not only did Flagler have one player, but two, as
Jacopo Denitto defeated
Baptiste Mercier 7-5 and 7-6 (5) in this afternoon's final at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
Previously, the best finish for a Flagler men's player was the semifinal round, which was done twice. Last year, the women's tennis final in singles and doubles was contested amongst Flagler teammates.
Denitto was a 16 seed and knocked off the No. 1 seed Joaquin Benoit of the University of North Georgia (6-2, 2-6, 6-0) in the quarterfinal round and later downed the No. 5 seed Gabriel Constantino of Wingate University (6-4, 3-6, 6-4) in the semifinals. Denitto went 6-0 in singles play.
Mercier, a transfer from Cameron University, was seeded No. 16 too, defeated No. 6 seed Thomas Cardona of Columbus State University (6-0, 6-7, 7-5) in the Round of 16 and followed that with a 6-7, 6-2, 6-0 victory over No. 2 seed Florian Walcher of Wingate in the quarterfinals. He edged Daniel Hammond of Columbus State (4-6, 6-3, 6-4) in the semifinals. Mercier finished with a 5-1 record at the ITA regional.
Philipp Lemken advanced to the quarterfinal round before falling to Hammond in straight sets.
Simon Malis and
Ilian Borlee both went 2-1.
Makary Adamek and Lemken went 3-1 in doubles. Malis and Mercier also posted a 3-1 record in doubles.
The Saints are back on the courts this weekend at the Southeastern Invitational (Sept. 29-Oct. 1) at Lakeland, Fla.
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