Georgia Tech’s men’s tennis team saw its 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship run cut short after a 4–2 defeat to Louisville on Wednesday.
Despite strong efforts from Christophe Clement and Gabriele Brancatelli in singles, the Yellow Jackets couldn’t recover from dropping the doubles point and two quick singles losses, as the Cardinals clinched the first-round victory.
Doubles Struggles Set the Tone
The match began with Louisville taking early momentum in doubles. On court one, the No. 13-ranked Tech duo of Nate Bonetto and Gianluca Carlini was upset by Louisville’s Andre Steinbach and Kosuke Nakanishi, 6–3. The Cardinals clinched the point moments later as Natan Rodrigues and Hamza El Amine dominated Gabriele Brancatelli and Krish Arora, 6–1.
The third doubles match, featuring Clement and Richard Biagiotti for Tech against Louisville’s Will Mayew and Miguel Avendano, was left unfinished with the Jackets narrowly ahead 4–3.
Cardinals Seize Control in Singles
Louisville kept its foot on the gas in singles. Avendano gave the Cardinals a 2–0 lead with a commanding 6–1, 6–2 victory over Carlini. That lead stretched to 3–0 when Nakanishi rolled past Biagiotti 6–3, 6–2.
Tech then mounted a brief comeback. Clement, ranked No. 102 nationally, put the Jackets on the board with a solid 6–2, 7–5 win over Steinbach. Brancatelli followed up with a hard-fought 6–2, 7–6 (7–3) victory over No. 81 Will Mayew, narrowing the overall score to 3–2.
But the comeback ended there. On court one, Louisville’s Rodrigues clinched the match by defeating No. 118 Bonetto in two tight sets, 7–5, 6–4.
The final match between Tech’s Robert Bauer and El Amine was suspended in the third set with El Amine leading 3–0 after splitting the first two sets 7–5, 1–6.
Final Score: Louisville 4, Georgia Tech 2
Despite flashes of individual brilliance, especially from its top three players, Georgia Tech was ultimately unable to dig out of the early hole created by Louisville’s strong start.
The Yellow Jackets now turn their attention to potential NCAA tournament placement or postseason individual competition as the ACC slate comes to a close.
Key Results:
Singles Wins for Tech:
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- Christophe Clement (GT) def. Andre Steinbach (LOU) 6–2, 7–5
- Gabriele Brancatelli (GT) def. #81 Will Mayew (LOU) 6–2, 7–6 (7–3)
Doubles Losses:
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- #13 Bonetto/Carlini (GT) lost to Steinbach/Nakanishi (LOU) 6–3
- Brancatelli/Arora (GT) lost to Rodrigues/El Amine (LOU) 6–1
Up Next
Awaiting postseason announcements, Tech looks to regroup with several of its key returners expected back for the 2025–26 season.