TULSA, Okla. — Senior Michael Venus knocked off his third-round opponent Friday at the D’Novo All-American to move into the quarterfinals Saturday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
Venus, No. 20 in preseason rankings, posted a stellar win over No. 4 Alex Clayton of Stanford. The 6-3 senior took the lead against Clayton after a first set mark of 6-4. Venus captured the match in the second set, 6-1, to advance into the quarterfinals and post his third singles win of the tournament.
“Michael played a complete match and beat a great player,” assistant coach Danny Bryan commented.
The 2008 first-team All-SEC player will next take on Arkansas’ Blake Strode. Venus and Strode also squared off last spring as LSU competed against Arkansas in the regular season. Venus won the heated match, 6-7 (0-5), 7-6 (0-3), 6-3, notching the win in third set.
“He’s playing a guy he’s familiar with,” Bryan said. “Blake has been building confidence and so has Michael, so it should be a good match.”
Venus and Strode will face off Saturday at 10 a.m. on the courts at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
D’Novo All-American Main Draw
Tulsa, Okla.
Oct. 9-12
All Times Central
Oct. 10
Singles
Round of 16
Michael Venus (LSU) def. Alex Clayton (Stanford), 6-4, 6-1
Doubles
Round of 16
Robert Farah/Steven Johnson (USC) def. James Cluskey/Michael Venus (LSU), 9-8 (5)
Oct. 11
Singles
Quarterfinals
Michael Venus (LSU) vs. Blake Strode (Arkansas), 10 a.m.