CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — LSU’s Ken Skupski advanced to the last phase of the pre-qualifying bracket Sunday in the Icy Hot/ITA All-American Championships at Chattanooga’s Champions Club.
Skupski beat conference rival Lewis Smith of Vanderbilt, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
Skupski, a first year player from Liverpool, England, faces his toughest challenge of the tournament tomorrow when he plays SEC foe Vlad Obradovic of Florida for a chance to advance to the qualifying bracket.
“(Skupski and Obradovic) are two of the top newcomers in college tennis,” said LSU head coach Jeff Brown. “It should be a really good match.”
Skupski is LSU’s only player still competing in the singles bracket after teammate Danny Bryan lost Sunday. Bryan, a freshman, battled TCU’s Jacopo Tezza but lost 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
“That was Danny’s best match as a Tiger,” Brown said. “He played really hard against a very good player.”
Skupski and partner Colt Gaston also advanced in doubles play thanks to 9-8 (3) a win over Arkansas’ Rohan Gajjar and Imran Ismail. The two automatically advanced another round to the pre-qualifying finals after their scheduled opponents defaulted. They will resume play Tuesday.
ICY HOT/ITA ALL AMERICAN
DAY THREE RESULTS
Singles
Ken Skupski def. Lewis Smith (Vanderbilt), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
Jacopo Tezza (TCU) def. Danny Bryan 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
Ken Skupski/Colt Gaston def. Rohan Gajjar/Imran Ismail (Arkansas) 9-8(3)