Oct. 14, 2000
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — The ninth-ranked Notre Dame doubles team of juniors Javier Taborga and Aaron Talarico saw their run at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men’s All-American Championships end with a three-set semifinal loss to Florida’s eventual champions Oliver Levant and Nathan Overholser by a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 score. Playing in just their second doubles grand slam event, the Irish pair won three matches to reach the semifinals. Their grand slam semifinal appearance marks the best for an Irish doubles team since Todd Wilson and Andy Zurcher reached the semifinals of the 1994 NCAA doubles championships.
The pair opened play with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Mississippi State’s 43rd-ranked Chris McDonald and Matt Soto and eliminated another Bulldog team as they edged Romain Ambert and Rene Combette 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5). Taborga and Talarico then rallied for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 quarterfinal victory over Duke’s 19th-ranked Ramsey Smith and Michael Yani as the Irish juniors reach the semifinals as the highest remaining seeded team. Taborga and Talarico lost in the NCAA first round last year in their first ITA grand slam appearance.