LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Illinois’ redshirt junior Gabrielius Guzauskas and redshirt freshman Zach Viiala combined for six singles wins and one doubles victory at the Louisville Invitational from Sept. 13-15. The pair competed in their first tournament of the fall on the campus of the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky.
Guzauskas advanced all the way to the singles final at the competition, while Viiala bounced back from a first-round defeat by winning his next three singles matches to win the consolation bracket.
Viiala’s victories marked the first of his collegiate career after he joined the Fighting Illini in January and did not make an appearance during the team’s 2024 spring season. Guzauskas made his return to the court after not seeing action during the 2023-24 campaign.
Day 1
The Illini tandem of Guzauskas and Viiala began their weekend in Louisville with an 8-4 victory over Belmont’s Esunge Ndumbe and Sabi Roi. The Orange and Blue duo then fell to Notre Dame’s Noah Becker and Brian Bilsey in the doubles semifinals.
In the Flight A bracket of singles play, Guzauskas picked up his first win of the season, defeating Sabi Roi of Belmont. With the Illini redshirt junior holding a 7-5, 4-3 advantage, Roi was forced to retire due to injury, which sent Guzauskas into the next round.
Viiala, who was making his first singles appearance at the collegiate level, came up short in a 6-0, 7-5 loss to Memphis’ Michael Kouame.
Day 2
Guzauskas and Viiala picked up two singles wins apiece on the second day of the Louisville Invitational.
Guzauskas, playing in the main draw, secured a dominant straight-set victory over Jack Batchelor of Bellarmine, 6-1, 6-2, in the quarterfinals. He continued that momentum into his semifinal match against Notre Dame’s Jameson Corsillo, who Guzauska defeated in two sets, 7-5, 6-2. Guzauska’s second win of the day sent him into the singles final on Sunday.
Viiala’s two wins marked the first singles victories of his collegiate career. In the Flight A consolation bracket, Viiala took care of business against Bellarmine’s Vineet Ramesh, 6-4, 6-2, for his first collegiate triumph. He then posted a 6-2, 6-4 decision against Nuno Pinheiro of Eastern Kentucky to advance to the singles final of the consolation bracket.
Day 3
Opening the final day of the Louisville Invitational with the…
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