NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Eight members of the Vanderbilt’s men’s tennis team as well as three doubles teams advanced on Day One of the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals in Knoxville on Thursday.
In Vanderbilt’s most dramatic match of the day, fifth-year senior Max Freeman dropped the first set against David Mizrahi of Louisville in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (3). But battled back to win two long sets, 7-5, 7-5, to claim the match and earn a spot in the Round of 64 against Frazier Rengifo (ETSU) at 8 a.m. CT Friday.
In his first match as a Commodore, Siim Troost defeated Chattanooga’s Jacob Marshall with two straight 6-2 set wins, and will play Eli Herran of Ball State in the Round of 64. Meanwhile, Joubert Klopper topped Xavier’s Ryan Cahill, 6-2, 6-3, to advance on against Gabriele Brancatelli (Purdue). Both Dores will play at 8 a.m. Friday.
Sophomore Jeremie Casabon knocked off Lipscomb’s Carlos Salas Tulla in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, and freshman Michael Ross outlasted Kaisei Kuroki, 6-3, 7-5. Both Commodores will take the court for an 8 a.m. match in the Round of 64 on Friday.
Fifth-year senior George Harwell won his opening match over Parrish Simmons (Ball State), 6-2, 6-4, while Macsen Sisam won 6-1, 6-2, against Frederic Schlossman (Austin Peay), and Marcus Ferreira won 6-2, 6-1, against Michael Karr (Butler). Harwell begins at 9 a.m. Friday, while the Sisam and Ferreira are scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m.
In afternoon doubles play, Troost/Ross defeated Dunne/Harper, 8-3, while Klopper/Ferreira beat Rogers/Saylor, 8-2, and Harwell/Freeman advanced with a first round bye. All three pairs will play at 2 p.m.
Regional doubles and singles champions and finalists qualify for the ITA National Fall Championships, which will take place in San Diego, California, beginning on Nov. 4.
Following the ITA Regionals, the Commodores will compete at the ITA All-American Championships, in which Harwell, Freeman and Ferreira were selected to compete. The ITA All-American Championships will be hosted by the University of Tulsa on Oct. 4-10. A full Fall schedule is here.
Stay updated with the Commodores as they compete in the ITA Regionals by following @VandyMTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Vanderbilt Results
Singles
Klopper def. Ryan Cahill (Xavier), 6-2, 6-3
Troost def. Jacob Marshall (Chattanooga), 6-2, 6-2
Freeman def. David Mizrahi (Louisville), 6-7 (3), 7-5, 7-5
#83 Casabon def. Carlos Salas Tulla (Lipscomb), 6-2, 6-1
Ross def. Kaisei Kuroli (Chattanooga), 6-3, 7-5
#42 Harwell def. Parrish Simmons (Ball State), 6-2, 6-4
Sisam def. Frederic Schlossmann (Austin Peay), 6-1, 6-2
#123 Ferreira def. Michael Karr (Butler), 6-2, 6-1
#104 Chris Edge (MTSU) def. Robb-Wilcox, 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
Troost/Ross def. Dunne/Harper, 8-3
Klopper/Ferreira def. Rogers/Saylor, 8-2
Rodriguez/Gatti def. Robb-Wilcox/Casabon, 8-4
#19 Harwell/Freeman, first round bye
