Aivaras Balžekas (April 8, 1982 – October 10, 2005) was a Lithuanian professional tennis player and a member of Lynn University's tennis team.
| Country (sports) |  Lithuania |
|---|---|
| Born | April 8, 1982 Šiauliai, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | October 10, 2005 (aged 23) Delray Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| College | Lynn University |
| Prize money | $5,328 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 0–0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 926 (July 8, 2002) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 0–0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 939 (October 15, 2001) |
Balzekas was a member of the Lithuania Davis Cup team and earned a career-high ATP singles ranking of world no. 926 in 2002. He played for one season at Lynn in Boca Raton, Florida,[1] and had earned several honors and titles, including finishing the 2005 season ranked 11th in American college tennis. This continued a successful career that began at Auburn University–Montgomery, where he was a member of the 2004 NAIA national championship team.[2]
Balzekas died at a Florida hospital where he was taken after being struck by a motorist. The collision occurred on October 8, 2005. At the time he was helping a friend push a disabled vehicle along the side of a road.[1] A Boca Raton man named David Walsh was sentenced to a year and one day in prison for the death of Balzekas. He pleaded guilty to driving drunk and killing Balzekas.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Top Lithuanian Player Dies After Crash". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. October 11, 2005. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ "Lynn Mourns Loss of Balzekas". www.ncaa.com. October 11, 2005. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ "Boca man pleads guilty in fatal crash". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. March 16, 2008. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
External links
edit- Aivaras Balžekas at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Aivaras Balžekas at the International Tennis Federation
- Aivaras Balžekas at the Davis Cup
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