TYLER, TEXAS – The University of Texas at Tyler men's tennis program will head out for Wichita Falls, Texas as they look to qualify for the ITA Cup for the second consecutive year.
THE SEASON SO FAR
The Patriots men have competed in two different events so far during their fall slate and have enjoyed solid success. In the Tyler Invite, the duo of
Gonzalo Fernandez Gil and
Joaquin Bianchi led the program with strong display in their doubles flight, earning the top spot.
In the Trinity Invite, Bianchi led the way with a finals run in singles.
Jonas Dixon made his own run, battling back through the West bracket of his own flight and earning the consolation prize.
Nikita Chuev posted another strong look, placing third in Flight 4.
On the doubles side, Fernandez Gil and Bianchi looked solid yet again, this time winning their first round match and then taking down the number one seeded team on their way to a semifinals run.
LAST YEAR'S ITA REGIONAL
Last season saw
Gonzalo Fernandez Gil and
Joaquin Bianchi enjoy strong success as the pair qualified in singles and in doubles for the ITA Cup. Fernandez Gil made a spirited run as the number four seed, taking down the number one seed to reach the final. Bianchi was the number 11 seed, and he took down the number three seed to earn his spot in the final. Fernandez Gil would ultimately win the match due to Bianchi's withdrawal, but both would end up qualifying for the ITA Cup.
In doubles, Fernandez Gil and Bianchi made a run to the semifinals where they faced off against Dixon and
Leon Sell. In that match, Fernandez Gil and Bianchi were able to advance into the final, and ultimately earn an at-large bid into the ITA Cup.
THE 2022 ITA REGIONAL
This season's ITA South Central Regional will take place in Wichita Falls, Texas and be hosted by Midwestern State. It will be familiar territory for UT Tyler men's tennis as they also played the 2021 ITA Regional on the same courts.
75 different players will take part in the regional tournament, with both the singles and doubles tournaments split into the main draw and a "B" draw.
In the tournament, Bianchi will hit the courts as the number four seed in singles, and he will be joined by Fernandez Gil and
Yudai Watanabe, who are the number three and number seven seeds. In doubles, the pair of Bianchi and Fernandez Gil will be the number two overall seed.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The winners of both singles and doubles draws will automatically qualify into next month's ITA Cup, hosted in Rome, Georgia. 16 players and teams will make up the singles and doubles draws, with eight receiving automatic qualification. The remaining eight players and teams will be selected at-large, with those coming out of the pool of finalists and quarterfinalists from each regional site.
