GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Duarte Vale came, saw and conquered on the final day of the ITA Southeast Regionals, notching his third consecutive singles title on the season with a 6-4, 6-4 win over UCF's No. 82 Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi in the main draw finals at the Alfred A. Ring Complex on Monday morning. Vale has been a force to reckon with this fall, seeing titles at the Seahawk Fall Invite, Southern Intercollegiate Championships, and now ITA Southeast Regionals.
The match was competitive from the start, as Vale and Mazzuchi traded games before Vale would notch a 5-3 lead late in the first. Mazzuchi would answer in the next game, however, Vale would hold him off to take the first set, 6-4. Mazzuchi buckled down in the second, jumping out to a 4-1 lead over Vale to start, though, Vale retaliated taking the break in the next two games to cut the deficit to 4-3. Vale would tie the game before earning the break on a double fault from Mazzuchi to take the lead, 5-4, as the junior didn't hold back in finishing Mazzuchi off to complete the second-set comeback, 6-4.
ITA Southeast Regional Singles Finalists No. 52 Duarte Vale (left) and No. 82 Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi (right)
The victory serves as his 13
th consecutive singles win, moving to 13-0 in singles competition this fall, as the win grants Vale an automatic entry into the Oracle ITA Fall National Championships in Newport Beach, Calif., on Nov. 6-10.
UP NEXT:
- The Gators gear up for the Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. on Friday, Nov. 1-3, while Oliver Crawford and Sam Riffice compete in Naples at the M25 Naples starting today (Oct. 28) through Sunday, Nov. 3.
