2016 Balloon Fiesta Invitational Final Results
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Jorge Escutia won the Flight 4 singles title, and Sean Baklini, Rodolfo Jauregui and Michael Tran all picked up doubles titles as the Lobos earned three titles at the UNM Balloon Fiesta Invitational this weekend.
With most of UNM’s players moved up two flights due to Hayden Sabatka and Bart Van Leijsen playing at ITA Regionals, the Lobos picked up one singles title and two second place finishes. UNM only had five players among the six flights.
Escutia finished his tournament in Flight 4 with a perfect 4-0 record, never dropping a set along the way. He earned that title with a win Sunday over NMSU’s Mauricio Benitez 6-2, 7-5, handing Benitez his only loss of the tournament.
UNM had a couple of second place finishes in Ricky Hernandez-Tong at Flight 1 and Rodolfo Jauregui in Flight 3, both losing on Sunday in de facto title matches. Hernandez-Tong lost in three, winning the opening set 6-4 but then dropping the last two to NMSU’s Christofer Goncalves 6-3, 6-1. Jauregui dropped a 6-4, 6-4, decision to Sergi Espias of NMSU, his only loss in the flight.
Michael Tran in Flight 5 nearly pulled out an odd title due to a tiebreaker, but he needed a Sunday win which he couldn’t get, dropping a 7-5, 6-3 decision. Tran finished the tournament 2-2. UNM’s other competitor was Sean Baklini in Flight 2, who went 1-3, finishing fourth. However, Baklini teamed up with Jauregui to win Flight 2 doubles, going a perfect 4-0, winning 7-6 in a tiebreaker over NAU.
UNM’s other title was Tran’s, who teamed up with NMSU’s Simon D’Alfonso to go 3-1 in Flight 3 doubles.
The Lobos continue its Fall schedule with the ITA Mountain Regional at UNLV next week.