Spring Break
Men's tennis upends Kentucky in road finale
RACHEL BOWERS
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Sports
Tiebreakers.
When they occur, they push athletes beyond normal circumstances. Tiebreakers decide who goes home with another one in the loss column, and who throws their hands up in sweet victory.
For the Georgia men's tennis team, the result was the latter in its 6-1 win over Kentucky in Lexington.
On court 5, Drake Bernstein was pushed to two tiebreakers - after battling through two match points against him.
After fumbling around in the first set against Kentucky's Graeme Dyce, Bernstein climbed out of the hole he dug himself in and took each of the following sets to hard-fought tiebreakers.
"Not only did he lose the first set, but he was down two match points in the second set," head coach Manuel Diaz.
Despite facing those match points, Bernstein buckled down and battled back for the Bulldogs, winning the match 1-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4).
"That's where you find out what you got. I think that in this point of the season, anytime you see this kind of effort and determination, it gives you a lot of confidence," Diaz said.
While Bernstein solidified himself in his match after three sets and two tiebreakers, Jamie Hunt took care of business quickly and efficiently as he faced Kentucky's Brad Cox on court 2.
Finishing first, and evening the score for the Bulldogs, Hunt put on somewhat of a clinic in his 6-2, 6-0 victory.
"We have just played the gutsiest, prettiest, best match we've played all year," Diaz said "I'm really pleased. Even though we lost doubles point, we sure more than made up for it by winning all of the close singles matches, and really showing a lot of heart and grit and determination."
After successfully playing their way out of the pressure cooker in Lexington, the Bulldogs close the regular season at home Saturday against fourth-ranked Tennessee.
When they occur, they push athletes beyond normal circumstances. Tiebreakers decide who goes home with another one in the loss column, and who throws their hands up in sweet victory.
For the Georgia men's tennis team, the result was the latter in its 6-1 win over Kentucky in Lexington.
On court 5, Drake Bernstein was pushed to two tiebreakers - after battling through two match points against him.
After fumbling around in the first set against Kentucky's Graeme Dyce, Bernstein climbed out of the hole he dug himself in and took each of the following sets to hard-fought tiebreakers.
"Not only did he lose the first set, but he was down two match points in the second set," head coach Manuel Diaz.
Despite facing those match points, Bernstein buckled down and battled back for the Bulldogs, winning the match 1-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4).
"That's where you find out what you got. I think that in this point of the season, anytime you see this kind of effort and determination, it gives you a lot of confidence," Diaz said.
While Bernstein solidified himself in his match after three sets and two tiebreakers, Jamie Hunt took care of business quickly and efficiently as he faced Kentucky's Brad Cox on court 2.
Finishing first, and evening the score for the Bulldogs, Hunt put on somewhat of a clinic in his 6-2, 6-0 victory.
"We have just played the gutsiest, prettiest, best match we've played all year," Diaz said "I'm really pleased. Even though we lost doubles point, we sure more than made up for it by winning all of the close singles matches, and really showing a lot of heart and grit and determination."
After successfully playing their way out of the pressure cooker in Lexington, the Bulldogs close the regular season at home Saturday against fourth-ranked Tennessee.
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