LEXINGTON, Ky. — Seniors Colt Gaston and Jan Zelezny of the LSU men’s tennis team had a strong performance Friday at the ITA Southeast Regional tournament held at the University of Kentucky as they both advanced to the singles round of 32.
Gaston and Zelezny both won in straight sets to stay alive in the main draw. All Tigers in the tournament will compete in the doubles portion, which ends late Friday evening.
“Jan showed a lot of character and fight today,” LSU head coach Jeff Brown said. “He faced a very difficult opponent in his first match. He was able to come back three hours later and beat one last year’s players to watch. Colt had a nice win and has a chance to continue his success against another great opponent tomorrow. It has been a very successful tournament overall. Our level of tennis has been very high.”
Zelezny came back from a one-set deficit against South Alabama’s Robert Hodel in the round of 128 to capture the next two sets, each by a 6-4 score. Zelezny picked up one of the biggest wins of his career in the round of 64 where he breezed past eight-seeded Billy Mertz of Alabama, 6-4, 6-4. Mertz is currently ranked No. 43 in the country and received second-team All-SEC honors last season.
Zelezny received a break later in the day as he and doubles partner Kevin Dessauer advanced to the round of 32 when their opponents had to withdraw.
Gaston won his first match of the tournament by defeating Vivek Subramanian of Miami in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. The Rome, Ga. native will now face 8th-seeded and No. 18-ranked Robbye Poole of Ole Miss.
Freshman Julien Gauthier knocked off fellow SEC competitor Alberto Gonzales of Kentucky in the Round of 128, 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-1. Gauthier struggled in his next match against the 25th-seeded Alex Lacroix of Florida, as he fell by a 6-3, 7-5 mark.
Ryan Lissner won his first match as a Tiger by defeating Thomas Estrada of South Florida, 6-2, 6-4, in the consolation bracket. Jonathan Tragardh also picked up a win in the consolation draw by defeating Alex Lambroupolos of Kentucky, 6-2, 7-5.
Action will resume Saturday at 7 a.m.
ITA Southeast Regional Tournament Schedule/Results
October 18-22, 2007
University of Kentucky
(Matches will be held at Kentucky’s Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex, Gold’s Gym and the Lexington Tennis Club)
*All times are Central and subject to change
Friday, October 19
Singles
Round 128
Julien Gauthier (LSU) def. Alberto Gonzales (Kentucky), 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-1
Jan Zelezny (LSU) def. Robert Hodel (South Alabama), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Round of 64
Jan Zelezny (LSU) def. (8) #43 Billy Mertz (Alabama), 6-4, 6-4
(25) Colt Gaston (LSU) def. (25) Vivek Subramanian (Miami), 6-4, 6-3
Vjay Paul (Vanderbilt) def. (10) #53 Kevin Dessauer (LSU), 6-4, 6-4
(25) Alex Lacroix (Florida) def. Julien Gauthier (LSU), 6-3, 7-5
Singles Consolation
First Round
Jonathan Tragardh (LSU) def. Alex Lambroupolos (Kentucky), 7-5, 6-2
Ryan Lissner (LSU) def. Thomas Estrada (South Florida), 6-4, 6-4
Jordan Delass (Samford) def. Sebastian Carlsson (LSU), 6-2, 6-4
Mikkel Mulller (Florida Gulf Coast) def. Martel Campbell (LSU), 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
Round of 64
Ryan Lissner/Jonathan Tragardh (LSU) def. Mahmoud Hamed/Michael Nusslein (South Florida), 9-8 (2)
Ales Svigelj/Diego Toledo (South Florida) def. Martel Campbell/Colt Gaston (LSU), 9-7
Sebastian Carlsson/Julien Gauthier (LSU) def. Andy True/Chad True (Western Kentucky), 8-3
Kevin Dessauer/Jan Zelezny (LSU) def. Greg Johnston/Charles Williams (Morehead State), (won by default)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Singles
Round of 32
(25) Colt Gaston (LSU) vs. (3) # Robbye Poole (Ole Miss), 12:30 p.m.
Jan Zelezny (LSU) vs. Hicham Laalej (Stetson), 12:30 p.m.
Singles Consolation
Round 128
Jonathan Tragardh (LSU) vs. Alex Zotov (Vanderbilt), 2 pm.
Ryan Lissner (LSU) vs. Bryant Salcedo (Vanderbilt), TBD
Round of 64
(10) #53 Kevin Dessauer vs. TBD, 6 p.m.
Doubles
Round of 32
Kevin Dessauer/Jan Zelezny (LSU) vs. David Rosenfeld/Vivek Subramanian (Miami) 10 a.m.
Sebastian Carlsson/Julien Gauthier (LSU) vs. (5) Marcus Sundh/Will Ward (Kentucky), 8 a.m.