Sept. 28, 2003
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – Senior tri-captain Matthew Scott (Oakton, Va./International School of Paris) reached the tournament final before falling to #38 Ludovic Walter of Duke, finishing as the singles runner-up Sunday in the adidas Invitational at the Peachtree City Tennis Center. Scott was the only Irish player, of the three participating in the event, that played on the final day of the event. Notre Dame will next play host to its lone home tournament of the fall — the Tom Fallon Invitational — which runs Friday-Sunday at the Courtney Tennis Center.
Scott won in the semifinals Sunday morning against Duke’s Rafael Abreu. The Irish senior took a 6-3, 6-4 decision to reach the tournament final. Walter then notched a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Scott.
“Ludovic Walter played an unbelievable match,” said Irish assistant coach Todd Doebler of the final. “But Matt has now had two strong tournaments, getting wins over ranked players in both. I think it is really good for him to start his senior year this way. It is good for his confidence.”
Scott is 6-2 in singles on the young season, with three victories over ranked players. He upset the tournament’s second seed, #63 Fabrizio Sestini of TCU, in the quarterfinals on Saturday, which followed up wins over #18 Richard Barker of Rice and #58 Dustin Taylor of Tulsa earlier this month in the season-opening Rice Crowne Plaza Invitational. Scott’s losses have both come against top-40 opponents.
Scott and fellow senior tri-captain Luis Haddock (Caguas, P.R./Notre Dame H.S.) won in doubles on Thursday in the adidas Invitational, but no other doubles matches were played due to inclement weather. Haddock, seeded third and ranked 64th, reached the singles quarterfinals before falling in a third-set tiebreaker to Abreu. Freshman Barry King (Dublin, Ireland/Gonzaga College) made his collegiate debut after missing the season’s initial tournament with tendinitis in his wrist. King won one match in the main draw before losing to Duke’s Jonathan Stokke. He then won a pair of consolation matches to finish 3-1.
All 15 Notre Dame players are scheduled to be in action in the 17th annual Tom Fallon Invitational. The Irish will welcome Alabama, Army, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue for the event.
adidas Invitational — Day Four
Singles — Semifinals
Matthew Scott (ND) d. Rafael Abreau (Duke) 6-3, 6-4
Singles — Final
Ludovic Walter (Duke) d. Scott (ND) 6-1, 6-3