Michigan
ITA All-American Championships
Young, Kittay Top Tournament's No. 2-Ranked Pair at ITA All-American Championships
9/27/2024 8:57:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Site: Tulsa, Okla. (Case Tennis Center & LaFortune Park)
Event: ITA All-American Championships
Result: No Team Scoring
Next U-M Event: Thu-Mon., Oct. 10-14 -- at ITA Midwest Regional Championships (East Lansing, Mich.)
TULSA, Okla. -- University of Michigan senior Gavin Young made his final first start as the NCAA men's tennis fall season got underway this week with the ITA All-American Championships. Young and doubles partner Benjamin Kittay, a second-year transfer, made their debut as a pair.
Entering the tournament, Young was seeded No. 7 and ranked No. 7 in the ITA singles rankings. He faced a familiar opponent in No. 38 Peter Makk of USC to open play on Wednesday (Sept. 25). The two met twice last year, splitting the matches. Young opened with a 6-2 win in the first set, collecting three break points as he went on a 4-0 run. Tied at 5-5 in the second, it was Makk that won the next two games to finish with a 7-5 set win to force a deciding third. Once again, the two were tied up at 4-4 with Makk winning the next two points to take the match, 6-4.
Young captured two wins in the consolation bracket, defeating No. 46 Pierre-Yves Bailly (Texas) 6-2, 6-3 and No. 45 Casey Houle (South Carolina) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Young closed the tournament with a three-set loss to Paul Inchauspe (NC State).
It was an impressive first win for Young and Kittay in doubles, as they knocked off Niels Ratu and Freddy Blaydes of Georgia, the preseason No. 17-ranked pair and No. 2-ranked duo in the main draw, 7-5, 6-3. In the round of 16 versus No. 26 Zsombor Velcza and Devin Badenhorst (Baylor) Young and Kittay fell in a first-set tiebreaker, 7-6 (11-9), to the pair of Bears that used the momentum to take the second set 6-2.
The Wolverines will be back in action on Thursday through Monday, Oct. 10-14 when the ITA Midwest Regional Championships get underway in East Lansing, Mich.
Main Draw Singles
Gavin Young
First Round (Sept. 25) - l. Peter Makk (USC), 6-2, 5-7, 4-6
Consolation (Sept. 26) - d. Pierre-Yves Bailly (Texas), 6-2, 6-3
Consolation (Sept. 27) - d. Casey Houle (South Carolina), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
Consolation (Sept. 27) - l. Paul Inchauspe (NC State), 6-3, 1-6, 5-7
Main Draw Doubles
Gavin Young/Benjamin Kittay
First Round (Sept. 25) - d. Niels Ratiu/Freddy Blaydes (Georgia), 7-5, 6-3
Seconf Round (Sept. 26) - l. Zsombor Velcz/Devin Badenhorst (Baylor), 7-6 (9), 6-2
Players Mentioned
