TULSA, Okla. — Jonathan Tragardh and Neal Skupski of the LSU men’s tennis team advanced to the second day of pre-qualifying rounds on Friday at the D’Novo All-American, hosted at the Michael D. Case Tennis center.
Senior Tragardh advanced over Denver’s Zach Frisch in a straight-set victory, 6-1, 6-4. He will move into the second round of tournament play to take on Eliot Potvin of Georgia Tech on Saturday at 8 a.m.
Freshman Neal Skupski won a heated match as he squared off against Texas’ Jonah Kane-West. Skupski overcame a close first set 7-6 (5), to finish Kane-West off in the second set by a 6-4 mark. The 6-1 newcomer will next take on Joe Debuzman of Sacramento State Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
“The first sets were tough competition, but the guys that won were able to work out their first set and that made the second set easier,” said head coach Jeff Brown. “It will be a full day tomorrow, but we are ready for the challenges.”
Joining Tragardh and Skupski in the second round are sophomores Sebastian Carlsson and Julien Gauthier, seeded No. 10 and 13, respectively. Junior Cody Loup also received a bye for the first round and will begin competition on Saturday.
Carlsson, the 2008 Louisiana Freshman of the year,will square off against Tennessee’s Matt Brewer on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., while Gauthier’s match is slated to begin noon against Denver’s David Simson.
After Tragardh kicks off play for LSU on Saturday, Loup will follow with a 9:30 a.m. match to take on opponent Christian Bierich of Iowa.
D’Novo Men’s All-American Pre-Qualifying Round
Tulsa, Okla.
Oct. 3-5, 2008
All Times Central
Round of 128
Jonathan Tragardh (LSU) def. Zach Frisch (Western Illinois), 6-1, 6-4
Neal Skupski (LSU) def. Jonah Kane-West (Texas), 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Phil Orno (Cleveland State) def. Ryan Lissner (LSU), 6-4, 6-3.
Round of 64
Jonathan Tragardh (LSU) vs. Eliot Potvin (Georgia Tech), 8 a.m.
Cody Loup (LSU) vs. Christian Bierich (Iowa), 9:30 a.m.
Sebastian Carlsson (LSU) vs. Matt Brewer (Tennessee), 11:30 a.m.
Neal Skupski (LSU) vs. Joe Debuzman (Sacramento Sate), 11:30 a.m.
Julien Gauthier (LSU) vs. David Simson (Denver), Noon.