Sanchez earns berth in Flight A final at HBCU Nationals

ATLANTA - XULA sophomore Christian Sanchez will have a shot at history Sunday, having secured a spot in the finals of the premier event in Black college tennis.

Sanchez, a native of Bogotá, Colombia, has been representing the Gold Rush in the 25th Annual HBCU National Championships Tournament at the South Fulton Tennis Center.

The tournament, which attracts NCAA Division I talent primarily, has allowed Sanchez to show that he is the equal of student-athletes from larger divisions. And he has done so to great success.

Indeed, all of Sanchez's wins in the Flight A Singles Bracket - featuring exclusively players who represent their teams on the No. 1 courts - have come against NCAA Division I competition.

On Saturday, Sanchez, seeded No. 7 in the bracket, defeated No. 5-seeded Rafael Padilha of Hampton 4-6, 6-2, 10-3.

After a come-from-behind win, Sanchez will now face 6-seeded Sergia Lopez Guillen of North Carolina Central at 8 a.m. CST Sunday.

Sanchez was one of three XULA players still alive in the tournament as of Saturday. However, he and doubles partner VanDer Woody were unable to participate in their Flight A Doubles semifinals match and retired, citing injury.

In the Flight C bracket semifinals, Martin Rivera lost to top-seeded Luka Videnovic of Alabama State, 7-5, 6-1.

Detailed results from all action at the HBCU Nationals are available on the ITA website.

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Players Mentioned

Martin Rivera: Freshman

VanDer Woody: Senior

Christian Sanchez: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Martin Rivera
: Freshman

VanDer Woody
: Senior

Christian Sanchez
: Freshman