Longwood University Athletics

MALIBU, Calif. -- Longwood senior ace Amadeo Blasco came into the Oracle Intercollegiate Tennis Association Masters in the unfamiliar position of underdog. He left by forcing the No. 36 player in the country to a third set.
 
On day two of the ITA's prestigious fall invitational, Longwood's senior phenom faced off with San Diego's Gui Osorio and stunned the reigning WCC Player of the Year with a first-set win before falling in three sets, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to end his two days at the tournament. That performance wrapped up the first ever appearance by a Longwood tennis player in the premier tournament, which featured 15 players in the men's bracket that earned national rankings in the 2018-19 final ITA men's poll.   

"Overall I believe Ama was able to see what this level is about when you're playing top players," said Longwood head tennis coach Jhonnatan Medina Alvarez. "That first set he was down two breaks and came back and won the set. He had a pretty good chance the end set and lost track a little bit of what he needed to do. That's what happens this level – they don't give you a lot. They give you only a few chances, and you have to capitalize. If not, you learn from experience."
 
Amadeo jumped out in front of Osorio by capturing the first set 6-4 to notch the first ever set win by a Longwood player in singles play at the ITA Masters. Though he would drop the following two sets, Blasco left with his head held high knowing he should be proud of his play and happy to get the experience of playing in this atmoshepere.
 
"Today was a tough loss because I was able to apply what I learned yesterday against a really good player," said Blasco, who remains just 11 wins shy of breaking Longwood's all-time singles wins record.

"I had chances in the last set coming back from 5-2 down. I was serving to tie 5-5, and I let the emotions of the moment and my own nerves force me to deviate from my strategy. At this level, other players take advantage of mistakes like that. Overall I've learned a lot, and it's been a very enriching experience for me. I know the things I need to work on, and I will get back to work and put my head down to get better for the season ahead."
 
Blasco noted he gained much from his experience at the top fall tournament collegiate tennis has to offer. Prior to his showdown with Osorio, he also faced 28th-ranked Joseph Guillin of UC Santa Barbara his first day at the tournament and paired with fellow Big South standout Alisa Soloveva of Winthrop to split their two doubles matches. 
 
"Now we'll go back and review things and improve on the component that I think is most important for Ama—that's how to be disciplined to not go for every shot, not go big, and understand situations as they come," said Medina Alvarez. "The other guy was just waiting and waiting and waiting, and he capitalized on the point. Ama was much, much better than yesterday for sure. He's starting to understand that to win at this level, it's not about just one good shot. It's many good shots, and the ability to defend well and knowing the right time to go for things and waiting for something to develop."

As the Longwood men's tennis team continues to prepare for the upcoming spring season, Blasco will return to campus with a level of experience unseen by any player on the Longwood roster.
 
"I must thank coach, Longwood and everyone who supported me," said Blasco. "It's been a blessing, and I am very grateful. The bottom line is I'm always happy to represent Longwood anywhere I go."
 
#GoWood​