TULSA, Okla. — LSU’s duo of James Cluskey and Ken Skupski advanced to the second round of the Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Main Draw.
The win is the first of the season for the doubles team.
“James and Ken did a great job of hanging in the match and never gave,” LSU associate head coach Mark Booras said. “They really believed in their abilities and it paid off with a win.”
The Tigers fought North Carolina State’s James McGee and Jay Weinacker to tiebreaker in their first round match. The Wolfpack duo took an early 3-0 lead in the tiebreaker, but the Tiger tandem would not be denied as they rallied to take the tiebreaker, winning the match, 9-8(8).
Cluskey and Skupski face stiff competition tomorrow when they battle the No. 3-ranked team of Middle Tennessee’s Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom of Middle Tennessee.
In singles, Skupski took Michigan’s Matko Maravico to a tiebreaker in their first round match. Skupski struggled in the tiebreaker as he lost the set, 7-6(1). Maravic continued his strong play in the second set, wining by a 6-2 count.
Skupski bounced back in the first round of the consolation bracket as he defeated Yale’s Brandon Wai in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
“Maravico was a gritty competitor who just found a way to win this morning,” Booras said. “Ken showed great bounce back ability in the consolation round and I know he is anxious to get back out there tomorrow.”
The Liverpool native will square off against Pierre Mouillon of California in the second round of the consolation bracket at 9 a.m. Friday.
Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Main Draw Results
October 5, 2006
First Round Doubles
#28 James Cluskey/Ken Skupski (LSU) def. James McGee/Jay Weinacker (NC State), 9-8(8)
First Round Singles
#25 Matko Maravic (Michigan) def. #12 Ken Skupski, (LSU), 7-6(1), 6-2
First Round Singles Consolation Results
#12 Ken Skupski (LSU) def. #50 Brandon Wai (Yale), 6-2,6-4
Main Draw Schedule
October 6, 2006
Second Round Doubles
#28 James Cluskey/Ken Skupski vs. #3 Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom (Middle Tenn.), 1 p.m.
Second Round Singles Consolation
#12 Ken Skupski (LSU) vs. #68 Pierre Mouillon (California), 9 a.m.