SAN ANTONIO — Senior Rodrigo Morgado and freshman Martin Ayala picked up the men’s tennis program’s first doubles championship at the UTSA Invitational on Saturday.
Morgado and Ayala defeated Devose and Velez of Tyler Junior College, 8-5, and Rodier and Thompson, also of TJC, 8-5, in first- and second-round matches on Friday. The tandem continued its success the following morning by winning its semifinal match against Bernstein and Mohinta of UTPA, 8-5. The duo then claimed the doubles championship over Vijayaraguavan and Bernstein in a hard-fought 9-8 (9-5) battle.
Sophomores Max Stratmann and Shariq Khan advanced to the consolation round in doubles play before falling to Roessle and Meeks of TJC. Jorge Delgado and Hugo Guanais also played in the consolation round. The senior-freshman duo outlasted Karimi and Seider of Texas A&M in the second round and then defeated Devose and Velez, 8-6, in the semifinals. The team fell just short in the consolation finals match to Bishop and Lopez of TJC, 8-5.
Ayala and Morgado carried over their doubles success into singles play.
Ayala advanced to the second round over Justin Raiti of St. Edward’s and he then defeated Stan Rodier (TJC), 7-5, 7-6, before falling in the semifinals to Cledson Carvalho (LCC), 6-1, 6-1.
Morgado was victorious over John Devose (TJC), 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, in his first round match of singles play. The Brazil native then overpowered Raffaelli (LCC), 6-3, 7-6, in the second round before falling to Ashwin Vijayaragavan (UTPA), 6-4, 6-0, in the semifinals.
Delgado advanced in the Blue Draw singles consolation by defeating Devose (TJC), 6-4, 6-3, but he fell short of victory in the semifinals round.
In the Oragne Draw, Stratmann advanced to the second round by posting a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Wiggins of St. Edwards. However, he fell to Genniraca Velez (TJC) in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) in the following match.
Khan, meanwhile, advanced to the consolation round where he defeated Patrick Dean of Texas A&M in straight sets (6-3, 6-3), but he ran out of steam against Marcus Dornauf of Texas-Pan American, 6-3, 6-0.
The Roadrunners will return to action in two weeks at the ITA Regional in College Station.
