Santiago Perez defeats doubles partner in ITA NAIA Gulf Regional tennis singles final

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana’s Santiago Perez earned his second title in two days, defeating teammate Shaikh Abdullah 6-0, 6-3 Sunday in the men’s singles final of the ITA NAIA Gulf Regional Championships at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.

Perez — a junior, a two-time NAIA All-American and the tournament’s top seed — won the first seven games and the final four in the 62-minute match. In all he broke the serve of Abdullah, who was seeded second, in 6-of-8 games.

“I played very solid,” Perez said. “I was very accurate in making shots. That was the most important part of the match.”

Perez and Abdullah both advanced to the ITA Oracle Cup with other NAIA regional champions Oct. 16-18 at Rome, Ga. Perez will play singles and team up with Abdullah in doubles. Perez and Abdullah won 6-2, 6-3 against Sam Marin and Joseph Short of city rival Loyola in the doubles final Saturday.

Abdullah is a senior and a three-time NAIA All-American.

“Today was an indication of us having a good foundation to be able to go into the spring with,” said Alan Green, who coaches XULA’s men and women. “Santiago played extremely well today, and Shaikh did not play bad. I’m excited to see what will happen in Rome and during the spring season.”

The three-day event was XULA’s first athletic competition since a 6-1 women’s tennis home victory March 13 against Lewis-Clark State. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled the remainder of XULA’s spring 2020 tennis season and all track and field outdoor competitions. XULA athletics staff returned to campus Aug. 3, and the first day of classes for the fall semester was Aug. 17.

The women’s bracket of the ITA NAIA Gulf Regional was postponed to Oct. 2-4 at XULA.