LEXINGTON, Ky. ? On a sunny Sunday at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex, Kentucky junior Bruno Agostinelli (No. 44) shined defeating Baylor?s Dominik Mueller (No. 61) 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the final of the Fluitt Invitational. The Wildcat faces another ranked Baylor Bear, Denes Lukacs (No. 78), in the Monday morning final at 10 a.m. ET on Kentucky?s home court.
In addition to the invitational title, a wildcard slot in the 2008 Cincinnati ATP Masters Series qualifying tournament is up for grabs Monday.
?I got a little tired towards the end of the match today because in my match this morning it was cold, so I guess my muscles were a little sore,? said Agostinelli. ?Going on to the final is huge, obviously, because of the wildcard in Cincinnati. It is the biggest thing ever. (Lukacs) is another tough competitor like everyone else here. I?ll have to play my best to beat him.?
Agostinelli played well all weekend, never losing a set over three matches against a trio of Bears, an NCAA final four team from a year ago.
?For Bruno to get to the finals of this tournament, against players from some of the elite programs in the country is a great effort,? said UK head men?s tennis coach Dennis Emery. ?He is playing very solid. He has good composure and is serving very well. Hopefully, he can continue to play at this level through the finals Monday morning.?
In the other semifinal, Lukacs defeated UK senior captain Marcus Sundh 7-5, 6-2. Sundh advanced to the semis after winning the first set 6-2 over teammate Will Ward (No. 90) before Ward retired with an elbow ailment during the morning session.
Earlier in the day, Agostinelli rolled to a straight-set victory over Baylor?s Matt Brown (No. 110) in his quarterfinal 6-2, 6-4.
Two Cats were in action during consolation bracket play. UK rookie Brad Cox served against SEC-rival Tennessee?s J.P. Smith. After losing the first set 6-1, Cox fought back to win the second, losing four games. However, Smith pulled out the victory 6-3 in the deciding set.
Substituting for players withdrawn from the tournament, Kentucky?s Jorge Jorge forced Tulsa?s Will Gray into extra games in the first set before relinquishing 7-5. 6-0. In the afternoon session, Jorge battled three sets with Connor Roth of Illinois. Jorge won the first set and was up a break in the second before Roth battled back to win in the final two sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Support Agostinelli and the Cats Monday at the Boone Tennis Complex. First serve is scheduled at 10 a.m. ET on stadium court number one.
