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GW Men's Tennis Freshman Francisco Dias Ranked by ITA and ATP
Dias Joins Colonials Program Ranked 10th Among Collegiate Newcomers
Freshman Francisco Dias is currently ranked No. 954 in the world by ATP and is the 10th rated newcomer in the nation by ITA.
 
Freshman Francisco Dias is currently ranked No. 954 in the world by ATP and is the 10th rated newcomer in the nation by ITA.
  

Sept. 30, 2011

ATP Rankings | ITA Preseason Rankings

WASHINGTON – The George Washington men's tennis team has added one of the nation's top newcomers in its effort to defend last spring's Atlantic 10 title as freshman standout Francisco Dias, who is currently ranked No. 954 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals, will compete for a top spot in the Colonials' lineup.

In addition to his ATP ranking, Dias also comes to GW as the 10th rated newcomer in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

“Francisco’s rankings are just another sign that GW is moving in the right direction,” said sixth-year head coach Greg Munoz. “He is only the third player in school history to be ranked, which says a lot about our program.”

Dias comes to GW from Lisbon, Portugal, where he has won three national championships and is currently ranked No. 8 in the country. He is the only player in Portugal’s history to own four ATP rankings by the age of 17.

“Being ranked both nationally and internationally means a lot to me because I know I am competing with the best players in college tennis,” said Dias. “It not only gives me a sense of pride, but it also brings visibility and prestige to GW men’s tennis and the university as a whole.”

In his collegiate debut last weekend, Dias teamed up with senior Ugur Atalay to compete in the UVa. Ranked Plus One Tournament – an event the Colonials participated in for the first time in program history.


 

 

“It is very exciting and motivating to be here at GW,” said Dias. “The recognition gives me more energy to practice harder and work to elevate the program.”

Coach Munoz agrees that Dias’ ranking will be a positive influence on the rest of the team.

“When a freshman comes in with recognition, the other players want to impress and challenge him,” said Coach Munoz. “Everyone on this team has an outstanding work ethic and I think they will use Francisco as a catalyst to propel this program further.” 

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