LAFAYETTE, La. – Freshmen Julian Saborio and Rafael Wagner secured their first career singles victories in the opening day of the 2016 John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic at the Culotta Tennis Center.
After dropping their first matches of the day, Saborio and Wagner each bounced back to advance in the consolation bracket. They will continue play at 9 a.m. CT Friday when Saborio will face Ole Miss’ Tim Sandkaulen and Wagner will square off against Texas Tech’s Carlos Di Laura.
Saborio defeated Silvio Cocito-Monoc from Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-3, 6-2, after falling to Brock Pennington of Kentucky, 6-3, 6-0, to start the day. Wagner also used straight sets to take a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Jamie Fraser of Louisiana-Lafayette after dropping his first match 6-3, 6-2, to Tristan Meraut of Oklahoma State.
“It was a good experience for the freshmen to go through, and I was glad they both responded to the tough morning and were able to win in the afternoon,” head coach Jeff Brown said. “The college game is about being able to respond and learning from your losses.”
Senior Jordan Daigle took a gritty 7-5, 7-5, win against Henry Ji of Southern California in his first match but dropped a hard-fought battle in his second contest to Bjorn Thomson of Texas Tech, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Senior Justin Butsch was ill during his first match of the day and suffered a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Leo Telles of Texas but was able to fight to push his second match into three sets, where he fell to Nils Ellefsen of Kentucky, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6.
Butsch and Daigle will pair up for the first time in their collegiate careers as the ITA’s 28th-ranked duo and No. 1 seed of the Cajun Classic begin doubles play against Louisiana-Lafayette’s Michael Kritzinger and Ole Miss’ Tim Sandkaulen Friday at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Saborio and Wagner will also team up to face 29th-ranked duo and No. 2 seed Alex Sendegeya and Bjorn Thomson of Texas Tech.
For up-to-date information and behind-the-scenes access on the Tigers, fans can follow the LSU men’s tennis team on Twitter and Instagram at @lsutennis and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lsutennis.
2016 John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic
Sept. 22-25, 2016 at Lafayette, La. (Culotta Tennis Center)
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016
Singles
1. #35 Jordan Daigle (LSU) def. Henry Ji (Southern California), 7-5, 7-5
2. Bjorn Thomson (Texas Tech) def. #35 Jordan Daigle (LSU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. Beck Pennington (Kentucky) def. Julian Saborio (LSU), 6-3, 6-0
4. Julian Saborio (LSU) def. Silvio Cocito-Monoc (Louisiana-Lafayette), 6-3, 6-2
5. Leo Telles (Texas) def. #49 Justin Butsch (LSU), 6-4, 6-2
6. Nils Ellefsen (Kentucky) def. #49 Justin Butsch (LSU), 6-3, 6-7, 7-6
7. Tristan Meraut (Oklahoma State) def. Rafael Wagner (LSU), 6-3, 6-2
8. Rafael Wagner (LSU) def. Jamie Fraser (Louisiana-Lafayette), 6-2, 6-2
Friday, September 23, 2016
Singles Consolation
Julian Saborio (LSU) vs. Tim Sandkaulen (Ole Miss), 9:30 a.m. CT
Rafael Wagner (LSU) vs. Carlos Di Laura (Texas Tech), 9:30 a.m. CT
#49 Justin Butsch vs. TBA, 10:30 a.m. CT
Doubles
#28 Jordan Daigle/Justin Butsch (LSU) vs. Michael Kritzinger (Louisiana-Lafayette)/Tim Sandkaulen (Ole Miss), 2:30 p.m. CT
Julian Saborio/Rafael Wagner (LSU) vs. No. 29 Alex Sendegeya/Bjorn Thomson (Texas Tech), 2:30 p.m. CT