Aug. 5, 2003
STOCKTON, Calif. - Recent Santa Clara University men's tennis graduate Federico Mattioli teamed up with junior Taylor Bedilion, to claim the Captain Weber Days Open in Stockton this past weekend. This victory was the icing on the cake for Mattioli, who is slated to return home to Buenos Aires, Argentina, early next week. The duo, who played doubles together this past season for the Broncos defeated Fresno State's Alex Krohn and USC's Brian Wright in the final 6-2, 7-6 (5).
The road to the championship was not an easy one. One half hour before the finals were slated to begin, Mattioli and Bedilion were finishing up a marathon match with Mark Fairchilds and Thomas Pennicka. The Broncos were able to stave off three match points in the final tiebreaker before outlasting their opponents 2-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (7). The match ended on a double-fault from Pennicka.
"I was so glad when he missed that serve, because I just didn't want to play anymore," a relieved Mattioli said.
The pair then played near flawless doubles in the final match to take the title.
"I don't know what happened," Bedilion said. "In our first match we couldn't hold serve to save our lives, and in the final we served lights out. But we'll take it."
Mattioli and Bedilion continue playing singles this week in Moraga at the Stead Open, but will not play doubles together. Mattioli plans on using his time to pack up his belongings for his trip home.
"I'm sad that we can't play together, but I understand," Bedilion said.
"At least we went out on top," added Mattioli.