Men's tennis player Alberto Perez plays for national title Friday
Eastern Florida State College men's tennis player Alberto Perez Mellado will play for a national title Friday morning in Florence, South Carolina.
Perez picked up the win in three sets against Wallace State College's Alexander Edley in one of the No. 2 singles semifinals on Thursday at Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center.
After getting out to a slow start and losing the first set 6-3 Perez broke Edley early in the second to take a 3-1 lead. Up 5-4, Perez forced 40-40 on Edley's serve and after three different ties at deuce, Perez would take the win 6-4 and force a third set.
He would take command in the third set, taking a 5-0 lead before winning 6-1 to advance to the championship.
"It was a really good match, very tight match," Perez said. "The second set I really wanted to give my best because I would have regretted not pushing in that set."
The berth into the final was a culmination of a long season for the Valencia, Spain native who has dealt with a lot in his first season in the United States.
"I was playing so good in Spain before coming here and I have to say it was a little tense in the beginning, I had a couple of little injuries that slowed me this season, but I think I played well and coach (Bobby Cashman) helped me improve throughout the season," Perez said.
He played well enough this spring to be the No. 6 seed for the national tournament and Perez dealt with the rain and some tough matches to reach the final.
Perez opened the tournament with a straight set win and then had his tightest match of the tournament later in the day, playing Mississippi Gulf Coast's Gonzalo Cotter. Perez won the first set 6-4 but lost the second 6-3 to set up an epic third set.
Tied 5-5, Perez broke Cotter and then held on for the 7-5 win to advance. Then in the quarterfinals, Perez defeated Iowa Central's Kodjo Charles ALipoe Tchotchodji 6-3, 6-0 to advance to Thursday's semifinal.
"I am feeling great, one week before I came here I had a lot of doubts about my game but I am really confident in my serve and my forehand right now," Perez said. "I am playing smart and trying not to make many unforced errors, I am not playing at 100 percent physically but am playing well."
Perez is the first Titan to be in the championship match at No. 2 singles and is looking to become the second national champion in as many seasons, joining Hugo Car as Titan champions.
"The goal tomorrow is to play my best, mentally I am ready. I have been eating good, sleeping good so we will see how the match goes but I am confident," Perez said.