GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – In an all-UIndy final, fourth-seeded Asier Ayllon Prado defeated Tadeo Gaggiofatto 6-3, 6-7 (7-5), 6-1 in the ITA Regional singles draw. The winning effort booked Ayllon Prado a ticket to the ITA National Cup for a chance to compete for a national title.
Ayllon Prado is the first Greyhound to win an ITA Regional Championship since Dario Huber in 2019. This is also the 16th Regional Championship under head coach Malik Tabet's tutelage.
INS AND OUTS
Gaggiofatto and Ayllon Prado meet in the finals after securing semifinal wins earlier this morning. Ayllon Prado toppled Ferris State's Kevin Kovacs, the tournament's #2 seed, with a 7-3 win in the first set tiebreaker, and a dominant 6-2 win in the second.
Gaggiofatto entered the semifinal match against the top seed Denys Zamaraiev with four straight wins against seeded opponents. Gaggiofatto got an early break in first, and took home a 6-3 win. Using the momentum from the first set, Gaggiofatto dismantled Zamaraiev in the second, with a 6-1 win.
In the all-Hound final showdown, Ayllon Prado struck first with a 6-3 win in the first set. The second set was a tight affair, ultimately going to a tiebreak. Gaggiofatto made the most of a mini-break when it mattered most, taking the second-set breaker 7-5. In the deciding third set, Ayllon Prado found an early service break and didn't look back, capturing the crown with a 6-1 victory.
After winning the singles championship, Ayllon Prado paired with Jovan Matovic to compete in the doubles semifinal. The pair fell 8-4 to Bora Bakici and Patricio Sepulveda of Grand Valley.
In the Flight B Singles draw, Vladislav Gorbatenko advanced to the finals after defeating Rockhurst's Alexi Khamrotau 6-3, 7-6 (7-4). Gorbatenko was narrowly edged out in the finals by Wayne State's Ben Hill, falling 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.
Gorbatenko also competed with Zaid Shelbaya in the Flight-B doubles semifinal, where the duo was bested by Northwood's Andrey Pikulin and Finn Buschmaas 6-8.
UP NEXT
Ayllon Prado will represent the Hounds at the ITA Cup for a chance to win a national title in singles against the field of regional champions in Rome, Ga., on Oct 11, 2025.
