TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The LSU men’s tennis team continued its success Day 3 of the ITA Southern Regional with three singles players advancing to the round of 16 and two doubles pairs moving on to the quarterfinals Saturday at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.
Thoughts from Co-Head Coach Andy Brandi
“It was a good day,” co-head coach Andy Brandi said. “Overall, we had some good wins against quality opponents and are looking forward to some tough matches tomorrow.”
Doubles Competition
The Tigers started off the day with the second round of doubles. Duo Joey Thomas and Rafael Wagner defeated Tulane’s Tim Ruetzel and Eric Wagner, 8-4, to move into the round of 16. Freshman duo Boris Kozlov and Nick Watson earned a gutsy 8-7(1) win against Sergio Lizarrage and Joaquin Vallego of Jacksonville State to advance also.
Both pairs secured 8-6 wins in the round of 16 to advance to the doubles quarterfinals Sunday.
Thomas and Wagner earned their win against Auburn’s Matteo De Vincentis and Tim Dollman while Kozlov and Watson defeated Jan Soeren Hain and Karlo Kranic of Ole Miss.
Singles Round of 32
Three Tigers earned wins to move on to the round of 16 Saturday.
Malik Bhatnagar worked a three-set win to come out victorious against Alabama’s Edison Ortiz, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(4).
No. 3 seed Shane Monroe swept South Alabama’s Samuel Serrano in straight-sets, 6-2, 7-6(3), and Rafael Wagner was successful in consecutive tiebreakers to earn the 7-6(6), 7-6(2) win against Alabama’s Riccardo Roberto.
Next Up
Bhatnagar, Monroe and Wagner will start the day with singles play at 9 a.m. CST. Doubles play will continue at 3:30 p.m. CST.
Competition in the ITA Southern Regional continues through Tuesday, October 23.
Fans can stream the main six courts online at: lsul.su/2yk4gCw.
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.
ITA Southern Regional Championships
October 18-23, 2018 • Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Alabama Tennis Stadium)
October 20, 2018
Main Draw Singles Round of 32
Malik Bhatnagar (LSU) def. Edison Ortiz (Alabama), 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(4)
Ewan Moore (Tulane) def. Joey Thomas (LSU), 6-2, 6-4
Shane Monroe (LSU) def. Samuel Serrano (South Alabama), 6-2, 7-6(3)
Rafael Wagner (LSU) def. Riccardo Roberto (Alabama), 7-6(6), 7-6(2)
Tim Sandkaulen (Ole Miss) def. Boris Kozlov (LSU), 5-7, 7-6(7), 6-2
Doubles Second Round
Giovani Pasini/Fernando Vargas (UAB) def. Shane Monroe/Agie Moreno (LSU), 8-6
Joey Thomas/Rafael Wagner (LSU) def. Tim Ruetzel/Eric Wagner (Tulane), 8-4
Boris Kozlov/Nick Watson (LSU) def. Sergio Lizarrage/Joaquin Vallego (Jacksonville State), 8-7(1)
Luis Erlenbusch/Dane Esses (Tulane) def. Malik Bhatnagar/Ruy Teixeira (LSU), 8-3
Doubles Round of 16
Joey Thomas/Rafael Wagner (LSU) def. Matteo De Vincentis/Tim Dollman (Auburn), 8-6
Boris Kozlov/Nick Watson (LSU) def. Jan Soeren Hain/Karlo Kranic (Ole Miss), 8-6
October 21, 2018
Singles Round of 16
Malik Bhatnagar (LSU) vs. Giovanni Oradini (Mississippi State), 9 a.m. CST
Shane Monroe (LSU) vs.Luis Erlenbusch (Tulane), 9 a.m. CST
Rafael Wagner (LSU) vs. Strahinja Rakic (Mississippi State), 9 a.m. CST
Doubles Quarterfinals
Joey Thomas/Rafael Wagner (LSU) vs. Kraljevic/Sandkaulen (Ole Miss), 3:30 p.m. CST
Boris Kozlov/Nick Watson (LSU) vs. Pierce Dolan/Arthur Libaud (UL-Lafayette), 3:30 p.m. CST