Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Men's Tennis Match Against SMU Rescheduled

March 26, 2002

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame-Southern Methodist men’s tennis match, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 6, has been rescheduled. The Irish and Mustangs will now face each other on Sunday, April 7 at 10 a.m. at the Courtney Tennis Center or Eck Tennis Pavilion.

The match was moved to accommodate Javier Taborga (La Paz, Bolivia) and Luis Haddock-Morales (Caguas, Puerto Rico), who will be participating in Davis Cup action for their respective countries next week. Taborga and the Bolivian Davis Cup team will be playing in St Vincent & Granadines from April 1-7 in American Zone, Group IV action. Puerto Rico and Haddock-Morales will be participating at the same time in Group III play in El Salvador.

The Davis Cup is a 102-year-old international tournament between men’s teams from nations around the world, all attempting to win the ultimate prize — the Davis Cup. In 2002, 142 nations are participating in Davis Cup action.

Taborga is participating in the Davis Cup for the third time (also in 1998 & 1999). He is 3-2 in singles action and 2-5 in doubles. Haddock-Morales, a member of his nation’s team in 1998, 1999 and 2000 prior to this year, is 5-5 in singles and 3-3 in doubles matches. In 1998, Bolivia played host to Puerto Rico and gained a 3-0 win, helped by a 6-3, 6-2 victory by Taborga/ Villarroel over Haddock-Morales/Rivera in doubles.

While Bolivia and Puerto Rico are playing in an attempt to qualify for the 16-team world group in the future, the United States Davis Cup team will face Spain in a quarterfinal tie from April 5-7 in Houston, Texas, to be televised on ESPN. The U.S. team consists of Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, James Blake and Todd Martin.

The Irish are 16-4 this season and ranked seventh in the nation, heading into Wednesday’s match at Michigan.