Saturday, October 8
Houston, Texas
All Day
Mississippi State
vs
USTA Futures
MSU players earn three singles wins across the Southwest on Saturday.
Borges Advances At ITA All-American; Rakic Opens Houston Cup With Win
October 08, 2016 | Men's Tennis
TULSA, Okla./HOUSTON, Texas – Mississippi State men's tennis sophomores Nuno Borges and Strahinja Rakic earned a combined three singles wins on Saturday, as Borges advanced to the semifinals of ITA All-American Championships consolation main draw and Rakic won his first match at the USTA Houston Cup future.
After defeating No. 113 Victor Pham on Friday in the opening round of consolation play, 43rd-ranked Borges downed two more ranked foes as he defeated No. 28 Ryotaro Matsumura of Kentucky and No. 70 Josh Hagar from Notre Dame.
Borges upset 28th-ranked Matsumara, 6-1, 6-4, while downing 70th-ranked Hagar in a three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
"I am proud of how Nuno played today," head coach Matt Roberts said. "He gained two more ranked wins and competed very well. Hagar gave him everything he had and tested Nuno, but we were fortunate to come away with the win."
The upset of No. 28 Matsumara, who was named co-SEC Freshman of the Year last year, is the highest-ranked opponent Borges has defeated as a Bulldog. The sophomore has now defeated eight ranked singles players since joining the team in January.
USTA Houston Cup
At the USTA Houston Cup, fellow sophomore Rakic started out his run against a tough foe as the Bulldog faced off against former Rice No. 1 Jonathan Chang in the qualifying singles draw. Rakic fought back from a first set loss to down the eighth-seeded Chang, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Chang is currently holds a 1120 ATP ranking.
"Strale played a great opponent today who has beat some of college's best tennis players over the past month," assistant coach Matt Walters said. "We're excited about tomorrow and I think this win is going to build confidence and help us continue to develop."
Up Next
Borges plays in semifinal action on Sunday, with possible consolation finals match coming on Monday. Rakic continues play from Houston as he takes on Kevin Bettendroffer in the second round of play in the USTA futures event.
Social Media:
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
ITA All-American Championships
Oct. 8, 2016 – Michael D. Case Tennis Center – Tulsa, Okla.
Main Draw Singles Consolation
Round of 16 – No. 43 Nuno Borges (MSU) def. No. 28 Ryotaro Matsumura (UK) 6-1, 6-4; No. 43 Nuno Borges (MSU) def. No. 70 Josh Hagar (Notre Dame) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
USTA Houston Cup Future
Oct. 8, 2016 – George R. Brown Tennis Center - Houston, Texas
Singles Qualifying
Round 1 – Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. Jonathan Chang (USA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
After defeating No. 113 Victor Pham on Friday in the opening round of consolation play, 43rd-ranked Borges downed two more ranked foes as he defeated No. 28 Ryotaro Matsumura of Kentucky and No. 70 Josh Hagar from Notre Dame.
Borges upset 28th-ranked Matsumara, 6-1, 6-4, while downing 70th-ranked Hagar in a three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
"I am proud of how Nuno played today," head coach Matt Roberts said. "He gained two more ranked wins and competed very well. Hagar gave him everything he had and tested Nuno, but we were fortunate to come away with the win."
The upset of No. 28 Matsumara, who was named co-SEC Freshman of the Year last year, is the highest-ranked opponent Borges has defeated as a Bulldog. The sophomore has now defeated eight ranked singles players since joining the team in January.
USTA Houston Cup
At the USTA Houston Cup, fellow sophomore Rakic started out his run against a tough foe as the Bulldog faced off against former Rice No. 1 Jonathan Chang in the qualifying singles draw. Rakic fought back from a first set loss to down the eighth-seeded Chang, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Chang is currently holds a 1120 ATP ranking.
"Strale played a great opponent today who has beat some of college's best tennis players over the past month," assistant coach Matt Walters said. "We're excited about tomorrow and I think this win is going to build confidence and help us continue to develop."
Up Next
Borges plays in semifinal action on Sunday, with possible consolation finals match coming on Monday. Rakic continues play from Houston as he takes on Kevin Bettendroffer in the second round of play in the USTA futures event.
Social Media:
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
ITA All-American Championships
Oct. 8, 2016 – Michael D. Case Tennis Center – Tulsa, Okla.
Main Draw Singles Consolation
Round of 16 – No. 43 Nuno Borges (MSU) def. No. 28 Ryotaro Matsumura (UK) 6-1, 6-4; No. 43 Nuno Borges (MSU) def. No. 70 Josh Hagar (Notre Dame) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
USTA Houston Cup Future
Oct. 8, 2016 – George R. Brown Tennis Center - Houston, Texas
Singles Qualifying
Round 1 – Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. Jonathan Chang (USA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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