The Georgia Gwinnett College men's tennis team earned a 9-0 victory at Emory University in a match featuring two defending national collegiate championship teams Sunday afternoon – the Grizzlies' 60th straight dual match victory.
GGC (5-0) has recorded shutout triumphs in all five dual matches so far in the 2017-18 season.
Both teams were ranked No. 1 in their respective division – Georgia Gwinnett College in NAIA and Emory in NCAA Division III – after capturing national championships last spring.
"Sixty wins in a row is something special for our program, and a 9-0 win over top-ranked Emory is another statement for this team," said Head Men's Tennis Coach Chase Hodges. "We have a gritty group of players who don't give you anything. This is going to be a fun season."
Playing indoors for the first time this season, the Grizzlies grabbed quick control of the match with three doubles triumphs. Senior Gilad Berman and junior Ayed Zatar picked up an 8-6 victory at the top of the doubles lineup. Junior Rafael Coutinho and sophomore Federico Herrera Duran won eight of the 12 games at No. 2 doubles. Then, the freshmen duo of Serge Becerra and Valentino Caratini rounded out things with an 8-6 win on the No. 3 court.
The visitors won all six singles matches in straight sets. Zatar, playing at No. 1 singles for the first time in 2018, won 12 of the 17 games. Berman picked up the team's fifth point of the afternoon with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles.
Sophomore Mika Kosonen won his spring singles opener at No. 6 singles by 7-5 and 6-1 scores. Coutinho was a 6-3, 6-1 winner on the No. 3 singles court, and Becerra improved to 3-0 in spring singles matches with a 6-0, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles. Caratini rounded out the winners on the No. 5 court by 6-1, 6-2 scores.
Results
Doubles
No. 1 Ayed Zatar/Gilad Berman (GGC) def. Scott Rubinstein/James Spaulding (Emory), 8-6
No. 2 Federico Herrera Duran/Rafael Coutinho (GGC) def. Adrien Bouchet/Rex Serituk (Emory), 8-4
No. 3 Serge Becerra/Valentino Caratini (GGC) def. Jonathan Jemison/Max Renke (Emory), 8-6
Singles
No. 1 Zatar (GGC) def. Erik Jemison (Emory) 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 Berman (GGC) def. Alec Josepher (Emory) 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Coutinho (GGC) def. Andrew Harrington (Emory) 6-3, 6-1
No. 4 Becerra (GGC) def. Serituk (Emory) 6-0, 6-4
No. 5 Caratini (GGC) def. Spaulding (Emory) 6-1, 6-2
No. 6 Mike Kosonen (GGC) def. George Congdon (Emory) 7-5, 6-1
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College begins play in its own Grizzly Invitational Friday, Feb. 16, at 10:30 a.m. against NAIA No. 2 Xavier University of Louisiana from the GGC Tennis Facility. It is a matchup from last season's NAIA championship match.
