Wilfredo Gonzalez Wins Silver at CAC 2014
University of Miami senior tennis player Wilfredo Gonzalez won silver in the team event while representing his home country of Guatemala in the XXII Central American and Caribbean Games at the Las Palmas Racquet Club from Nov. 24-30 in Veracruz, Mexico.
“It was a great level tournament where the best tennis players from all the countries from Central America, Caribbean, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela competed,” said Gonzalez. “I am extremely happy to have played the best doubles I have ever played in my life. and excited to continue working, now that I realize that I am so close to players with rankings that high in the professional tour. I know that with hard work and strong fundamentals, I can go back to the games in four years (Colombia 2018), and accomplish even better results.”
In the team quarterfinals Guatemala defeated the host nation of Mexico with a final score of 2-1.
“In first round, we played against the local team, Mexico,” said Gonzalez. “Because of the rankings and good trajectory of the Mexican players, few people believed an upset from Guatemala was possible.”
Gonzalez faced ITF No. 821 Lucas Gomez and dominated in the first set, but ultimately fell in a tough match, 6-1, 0-6, 11-9. Gonzalez then teamed up with Christopher Díaz in doubles action of the team event to defeat the No. 36 ranked team of No. 38 Santiago Gonzalez and No. 120 Cesar Ramirez in a tightly contested match, 7-5, 7-6, the first upset of the team event competition.
In the semifinals, Gonzalez then routed his opponent Haydn Lewis from Barbados 6-1, 6-1, leading Guatemala to a final 2-1 victory over Barbados. Gonzalez and Diaz then clinched their place in the finals defeating Haydn Lewis and Darian King in a dominant performance, 6-2, 6-0, the second upset of the event.
In the finals, Gonzalez and his teammates then fell to Colombia, 2-0, ending the string of upsets by the Guatemalan team. Gonzalez was pegged against highly ranked ITF No. 623 Juan Carlos Spir. Gonzalez pushed Spir to a tiebreak in the first set, but fell in straight-sets, 7-6, 6-1.
“Even though we were sad that we couldn’t win the gold medal, we were extremely happy for beating two teams that on paper were better than us,” said Gonzalez. “And not only that, but it was the first tennis medal in this games since 1990, which is something big what we accomplished.”
In the singles competition, Gonzalez opened the tournament with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Dominic Pagon from Jamaica. In the second round, he faced No. 312 Darian King from Barbados, who was the No. 5 seed in the tournament. Gonzalez battled in both sets, but ultimately fell 6-4, 6-4 to King.
In doubles competition, Gonzalez teamed up with Stefan Gonzalez and faced off against Peter Bertran and Jose Hernandez from the Dominican Republic. The Gonzalez and Gonzalez pair challenged in the first set but fell in straight sets to the Dominican duo in first round action, 6-3. 6-2.
The 2014 edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games was the first time the team event was included in the tennis competition.
In the XXII Central American and Caribbean Games, the best players from each Central American and Caribbean countries competed against each other for individual and team medals.
Results – Team Competition
Quarterfinals
Guatemala def. Mexico, 2-1 (1-2, 2-0, 2-0)
#821 Lucas Gomez (MEX) def. Wilfredo Gonzalez (GUA), 6-1, 0-6, 11-9
Gonzalez/Díaz (GUA) def. Gonzalez/Ramirez (MEX), 7-5, 7-6
Semifinals
Guatemala def. Barbados, 2-1 (2-0, 1-0 ret., 1-2)
Wilfredo Gonzalez (GUA) def. Haydn Lewis (BAR), 6-1, 6-1
Gonzalez/Díaz (GUA) def. Lewis/King (BAR), 6-2, 6-0
Finals
Colombia def. Guatemala, 2-0 (2-0, 2-1)
Juan Carlos Spir (COL) def. Wilfredo Gonzalez (GUA), 7-6, 6-1
Results – Singles Competition
Wilfredo Gonzalez (GUA) def. Dominic Pagon (JAM), 6-4, 6-3
5-seed, No. 312 Darian King (BAR) def. Wilfredo Gonzalez (GUA), 6-4, 6-4.
Results – Doubles Competition
Bertran/Dominguez (DOM) def. Gonzalez/Gonzalez (GUA), 6-4, 6-3
