Chambana Sun

Illinois' redshirt junior Gabrielius Guzauskas and redshirt freshman Zach Viiala secured six singles wins and one doubles victory at the Louisville Invitational from Sept. 13-15. The tournament, held on the campus of the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky., marked their first competition of the fall season.

Guzauskas advanced to the singles final, while Viiala recovered from a first-round defeat to win three consecutive singles matches and claim the consolation bracket.

Viiala's victories were his first in collegiate competition after joining the Fighting Illini in January but not appearing during the team's 2024 spring season. Guzauskas returned to action after sitting out the 2023-24 campaign.

On Day 1, Guzauskas and Viiala began with an 8-4 doubles victory over Belmont's Esunge Ndumbe and Sabi Roi before falling to Notre Dame's Noah Becker and Brian Bilsey in the semifinals. In singles play, Guzauskas defeated Sabi Roi of Belmont as Roi retired due to injury with Guzauskas leading 7-5, 4-3. Viiala lost his first collegiate singles match to Memphis' Michael Kouame, 6-0, 7-5.

Day 2 saw both players earn two singles wins each. Guzauskas defeated Jack Batchelor of Bellarmine (6-1, 6-2) in the quarterfinals and Jameson Corsillo of Notre Dame (7-5, 6-2) in the semifinals to advance to Sunday's final. Viiala won against Bellarmine's Vineet Ramesh (6-4, 6-2) for his first collegiate victory and then beat Nuno Pinheiro of Eastern Kentucky (6-2, 6-4) to reach the consolation final.

On Day 3, Guzauskas and Viiala lost their third-place doubles match against Louisville’s Piet Steveker and Enrique Pena by a scoreline of 8-3. However, Viiala secured his third consecutive singles win by defeating Moritz Kudernatsch of Memphis (6-3, 6-4). In a closely contested main draw final, Guzauskas fell to Kentucky's Martin Breysach (7-6(6), 7-5).