SUMTER, N.C. - Flagler College's Aniss Rafiq claims the ITA Southeast Regionals runner-up title in singles play this evening at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
Rafiq, a freshman, started the tournament as the sixth seed, resulting in a bye for the first round of 128. Over the course of Saturday to Monday, Rafiq went undefeated, taking his four matches in two sets.
On Tuesday, Rafiq competed in the semifinal round, defeating ninth-seeded Enzo Garutti of Augusta University, 7-5 and 6-1. The finals round saw Rafiq face off against third-seeded Pedro Liborio of the University of North Georgia. Forcing the first set to a tie break, Rafiq fell (7-4), but bounced back in the second set, 6-4. Coming down to the very end, Rafiq fought until falling, 7-5.
Junior Simon Malis had the second best showing for the Saints, making it all the way to the quarterfinal round. Much like Rafiq, Malis played Liborio, but in the quarters. He pushed the match to three sets as well. Prior to this, Malis started the tournament with a first-round bye then defeated his first two opponents in two sets. In the round of 16, Malis took on ninth-seeded Agustin Mastri of Catawba College, and defeated him in three sets
Top seed Baptiste Mercier, and last year's regional runner-up, withdrew due to injury in the Round of 16. Meeting little resistance in his first two matches, Mercier cruised through both matches in two sets each.
Ilian Borlee and Makary Adamek made it as far as the round of 32. Winning both their matches in two sets, Adamek's best set came in his first match where he won 6-1. Borlee played the same in his second set, winning 6-1 too.
Vinzenz Wutzl was the lone Saint in the round of 128. Defeating his opponent in two sets before falling to Liborio in three sets.
Doubles play saw fourth-seeded Borlee/Malis make it the furthest for the men, playing in the semifinal round. The duo met their match against eighth-seeded Andrea Sandrone and Elias Peter of Columbus State University who went on to win the tournament.
The team has a quick turn around this week where they will participate in the Mercer Gridiron Classic Oct. 4-6 at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.
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