STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — LSU men’s tennis player Sebastian Rutka earned his first-career victory over a ranked opponent on Tuesday, as he defeated Illinois’ 100th-ranked Chris Martin in the qualifying round of the ITA All-American Championships.
“Sebastian was extremely focused and ready to play today,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “He wanted to get off to a good start this fall and he did a great job by defeating a ranked opponent. This should be a good confidence boost for him and hopefully he’ll carry it over to tomorrow’s match.”
The ITA All-American Championship tournament is the first leg of the ITA Grand Slam and consists of the top-collegiate players from across the nation. The six-day event includes both singles and doubles championships and is the largest collegiate tennis tournament in the country. More than 360 players will compete in the singles draws this week.
Rutka, the Tigers’ sophomore from Krakow, Poland, advanced to the second round of the qualifying singles draw on Tuesday by defeating Martin in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. He moves on to face 64th-ranked Mariano Pettigrosso of Arkansas Little Rock on Wednesday. With a win, Rutka would advance to the main draw of competition beginning on Thursday.
“This is a positive thing for Sebastian no matter what happens tomorrow,” Brown said. “The experience of playing some of the best tennis players in the nation will benefit him in the long run this season.”
LSU’s Jesse Smatt, the 72nd-ranked player in the nation, fell in his qualifying match on Tuesday. The Tigers’ senior from Cooper City, Fla., was upset by Pepperdine’s Calle Hansen, 6-1, 7-5, in the opening round of competition. Smatt was the ninth-seeded player in the draw.
“It was a very disappointing loss for Jesse,” said Brown. “He definitely didn’t play his best tennis today and it was tough on him. This was his first contest of the fall season and I know that he’ll improve as the season wears on.”
Rutka will resume play in second-round action of the qualifying draw at the ITA All-American Championships on Wednesday, as he is scheduled to face Arkansas Little Rock’s Pettigroso at the Lincoln Tennis Center in Stone Mountain, Ga.
ITA All-American Championships
Qualifying First Round
Calle Hansen (Pepperdine) def. #72 Jesse Smatt (LSU), 6-1, 7-5.
Sebastian Rutka (LSU) def. #100 Chris Martin (Illinois), 6-3, 7-5.