George Washington University Athletics
Summer Update: GW Men's Tennis' Julius Tverijonas
7/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
George Washington men's tennis rising senior Julius Tverijonas represented his home nation of Lithuania as a member of its Davis Cup team in July. Tverijonas also competed in a Futures tournament, teaming up with his older brother in doubles competition.
In early June, Tverijonas accepted an invitation to serve as a member of Lithuania's Davis Cup team. Tverijonas practiced with the four-man squad for about a week prior to Lithuania's match with South Africa held at the Azuolynas Tennis Centre in Kaunas, Lithuania from July 15-17. Although Tverijonas did not get a chance to compete, Lithuania took a 3-2 victory in the second round of Group II Europe/Africa play.
"The whole experience was amazing," said Tverijonas. "South Africa had a really talented team - two singles players ranked around 350 in the ATP rankings and doubles players who are ranked around 120 and top-10 in ATP doubles."
Lithuania took two singles matches from South Africa on the first day of competition, but South Africa stayed alive by winning a doubles match on day two. Lithuania clinched the victory on the third day with another singles win.
"It was a really great feeling when we clinched the match," said Tverijonas. "Even though I didn't get to play, I was still really proud to represent my country in such a competition. A lot of people came to support us during every match."
The 2016 competition marked Tverijonas' third Davis Cup experience, but served as Tverijonas' first taste of team victory.
"This year it was a different feeling because we won against a really good team," said Tverijonas. "I already had a lot of experience of how to be a better team player because of college tennis. Tennis is a very individualistic sport and the Davis Cup is the only event - other than college tennis - when players play not only for themselves, but also for their teammates and for their country."
After completing Davis Cup competition, Tverijonas traveled to Lithuania's capital of Vilnius to play in an ITF futures tournament, where he received a wild card bid into the main draw. In the first round, Tverijonas defeated the tournament's sixth-seeded singles player in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. In second round play. Tverijonas outlasted his opponent in a three-hour marathon match, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5, to advance as far as the quarterfinals. Tverijonas will earn singles ranking points for his advancement in the tournament.
"After practicing with the Davis Cup team I felt really confident about my game and played good tennis," said Tverijonas. "I didn't play as well on the final day, but I was still happy with what I achieved in this tournament."
The rising senior also competed in the doubles draw with his older brother, Aleksas, often competing on the same day as singles play. The Tverijonas pair advanced to the quarterfinal after a straight-set win in the Round of 16. The Lithuanian duo then defeated the fourth-seeded tandem from Russia, 7-6 (6), 6-4, to advance as far as the semifinal. The brothers will receive doubles ranking points for their efforts.
Players Mentioned
