University of Tennessee Athletics
Rea Captures New Zealand's National Tennis Championship
December 23, 2001 | Men's Tennis
Dec. 23, 2001
AUCKLAND, New Zealand-- Tennessee sophomore Simon Rea captured the New Zealand Residential Championship title Sunday, a year after capturing the country's junior championship. The Auckland native won five straight matches, including upsets over the tournament's No. 1 and 2 seeds in his championship run.
Rea began his run with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Henry Gers, before taking out Adam Thompson 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 in the second round. Rea's quarterfinal match proved to be the most decisive, as he downed G.D. Jones easily 6-2, 6-0. Rea then posted an impressive comeback victory over the tournament's No. 1 seed and New Zealand Davis Cup player Mark Nielsen. Rea defeated Nielsen, the world's No. 457-ranked player, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 after being down match point in the second set. Rea then put the finishing touches on his title bid, with a 6-0, 7-6 victory over No. 2 seed and New Zealand Davis Cup player Alistair Hunt in the tournament final.
"I am very happy to win my country's national championship," offered an excited Rea. "I have been mainly practicing indoors, so I had to adjust to playing outside again. I was a little rusty at the start, but I got stronger and stronger as the tournament went on and at the end I was playing at the level I knew I was capable of. I am very pleased that all the early morning work with (UT head coach) (Michael) Fancutt and (UT assistant coach) (Chris) Mahony is paying off."
"Coach Fancutt and I are very pleased with Simon's performance this week," Mahony said. "I knew he was capable of great results and this win shows he is making great progress. To go from being New Zealand's junior champion to its national champion is a fantastic effort. We look forward to Simon (Rea) having an outstanding season for us this year."
Rea turned in an impressive record this fall, finishing the tournament season with a 17-8 record and capturing his first collegiate tournament title at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships in Athens, Ga. Rea will be heavily counted upon when the Vols begin team play at home Jan. 26 against the Citadel and UT-Chattanooga.
