HOUSTON, Texas — Five LSU men’s tennis players and three of the Tigers’ doubles teams advanced Friday to the second round of play in the Rice University Continental Airlines Cup Tennis Tournament.
“I was very pleased with the way we came out and played hard tennis today,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “This is our first event of the fall season, and I’m impressed with the way the guys looked out there against some very talented players.”
Advancing to the second round of singles play for the Tigers were senior Ajay Ramaswami, junior Jesse Smatt, freshman Sebatian Rutka, junior Anthony Mateljan, and sophomore Brandon Nicholson.
Ramaswami disposed of Lamar’s Nebojsa Murisic in straight sets with a 6-1, 6-1 victory, while Rutka also breezed past his opponent from Lamar by defeating Chris Chapman, 6-3, 6-0. Ramaswami will face North Carolina’s David Cheatwood in the second round. Rutka is scheduled to battle Ryan Newport from Texas A&M.
LSU’s Mateljan outplayed Rice’s Ramez Qamer, 6-2, 6-2, in the opening round of the tournament, while the Tigers’ Smatt advanced to the second round of play without breaking a sweat when Texas A&M’s Jarin Skube withdrew from the event. Mateljan will take on Rafael Reyes of Rice in the second round, and Smatt will get to see his first action versus Rice’s William Barker.
The fifth Tiger to advance in the tournament was Nicholson. After losing the first set, 4-6, the LSU sophomore built a 5-1 lead in the second set before Rice’s Otmane Bennani-Smires retired due to an injury. Nicholson will face Christian Schoning from Lamar in the second round.
“The guys did a decent job today in singles play,” Brown said. “They’re not anywhere near to being 100% yet, but it was only the first day of the fall season, and I know we will improve.”
On the doubles side of the tournament, three of the Tigers’ four doubles teams advanced to the second round. Kiernan/Rutka toppled North Carolina’s Monroe/Archer, 8-4, in the Flight A bracket, while both Smatt/Mateljan and Jonathan Hurd/Nicholson moved on in the Flight B bracket where they will face each other in the second round.
The Rice University Continental Airlines Cup Tennis Tournament will continue Saturday morning with singles matches beginning at 9 a.m. and doubles matches starting at approximately 3 p.m.