Georgia Tech handed the Auburn men's tennis team its first home loss of the season in a 4-0 match Sunday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center; wet conditions forced the match indoors.
Auburn got on the board first in doubles, as Jan Galka and Tyler Stice posted a quick 6-2 victory over Brandon McKinley and Cole Gromley on court three. The other two matches were back and forth, with GT's No. 31-ranked tandem of Marcus McDaniel and Pablo Schelcher eventually winning 6-3 on court one. On court two, Auburn's Tom Wright and Maxwell Giddens forced a tiebreaker in their match, and then came from an 0-4 deficit to tie the tiebreak at 6-6 before falling 8-6 to No. 41-ranked Andres Martin and Keshav Chopra.
In singles, Auburn's Jan Galka and Maxwell Giddens captured their first sets. Galka took his first set 6-3 over Keshav Chopra on court three, while Giddens was up 6-1 after the first set over Cole Gromley on court six. Both Galka and Giddens were leading in the third set when play concluded. Georgia Tech captured the team win with victories on courts five, two and four.
The Tigers are now 2-2 on the season; Georgia Tech is 3-0.
The Tigers are in action Friday at Tulane for a noon match and then return home to host Louisville Sunday at 1 p.m. All Auburn home tennis action is at the Yarbrough Tennis Center (1717 Richland Road, Auburn).
Fans wearing face coverings are welcome to attend any matches played outdoors; fans may want to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating to remain socially distanced. If weather moves the match indoors, only participants and officials will be admitted.
Georgia Tech 4, Auburn 0
Singles
Tyler Stice (AU) v #59 Andres Martin (GT) 5-7, 2-5 unfinished
Marcus McDaniel (GT) def. Tad Maclean (AU) 7-5, 6-3
Jan Galka (AU) v Keshav Chopra (GT) 6-3, 2-6, 3-0 unfinished
Brandon McKinney (GT) def. Finn Murgett (AU) 7-6 (7-0), 6-1
Pablo Schelcher (GT) def. Spencer Gray (AU) 6-2, 6-1
Maxwell Giddens (AU) v Cole Gromley (GT) 6-1, 3-6, 3-2 unfinished
Doubles
#31 Marcus McDaniel/Pablo Schelcher (GT) def. Tad Maclean/Finn Murgett (AU) 6-3
#41 Andres Martin/Keshav Chopra (GT) def. Tom Wright/Maxwell Giddens (AU) 7-6 (8-6)
Jan Galka/Tyler Stice (AU) def. Brandon McKinley/Cole Gromley (GT) 6-2
Time of match: 2:38; Order of finish: Doubles: 3,1,2; Singles: 5,2,4; Official: Donna Jerome