MSU Men’s Tennis Caps Successful First Day Of Qualifying

Monday, October 2

Tulsa, Okla.

All Day

Mississippi State

ITA All-American Championships

Bulldog sophomore Giovanni Oradini earned his fourth ranked win of the year on Monday

MSU Men’s Tennis Caps Successful First Day Of Qualifying

October 02, 2017 | Men's Tennis

2017 ITA Men's All-American Qualifying Singles Draw 2017 ITA Men's All-American Qualifying Doubles Draw 2017 ITA Men's All-American Qualifying Consolation Draw

TULSA, Okla. – Qualifying play in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American Championships began for six members of the Mississippi State men's tennis squad in both singles and doubles action on Monday.

Sophomore Giovanni Oradini earned his fourth ranked win of the season against Florida's Chase Perez-Blanco—ranked 105th nationally. All four of Oradini's wins this fall have come against ranked competition and he is 5-0 as a Bulldog against ranked foes. Oradini will face No. 113 Robert Herrera of East Tennessee State in Tuesday's second round.

Trevor Foshey opened up the day for the Maroon and White with a 6-2, 6-3 victory against Illinois' Zeke Clark. The junior will take on Minnesota's 83rd-ranked Felix Corwin in Tuesday's second round.

State's Niclas Braun also got his qualifying play off to a good start by downing Michigan State's Brett Forman 6-2, 6-4. He advances to face Miami's Bojan Jankulovski on Tuesday in the second round.

67th-ranked Strahinja Rakic dropped a tough 6-4, 6-3 battle against Indiana's Raheel Manji—ranked 119th nationally. Rakic will return to the court on Tuesday in a consolation match.

Braun, Foshey and Oradini will each look for two more wins on Tuesday to advance to the main draw, which begins Thursday.

In doubles action, All-American Nuno Borges took the court for the first time in the fall, pairing up with Rakic. The duo bounced back to win the final two sets after dropping the first set against Baylor's Jimmy Bendeck and Akos Kotorman in a 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(8) victory. Borges and Rakic then advanced to the final round of qualifying by winning a 7-6, 6-3 decision against Mantas Bugailiskis and Xander Veys of Fresno State.

Oradini teamed up with State freshman Florian Broska to take their first doubles match as a pair against Ethan Nittolo and Petr Vodak of Buffalo 6-2, 7-6. Broska and Oradini dropped a hard-fought three-setter against Florida's McClain Kessler and Duarte Vale in the second round – 5-7, 6-3, 1-0(8).

Borges and Rakic need one win on Tuesday to advance to the doubles main draw.

The All-American Borges, ranked No. 2 nationally, is already entered in the 64-player singles main draw. Braun and Foshey, No. 7-ranked as a doubles tandem, are also already entered in that 32-team field.

MSU at the 2017 ITA All-American Championships
October 2, 2017 – Tulsa, Okla.

Qualifying Singles
First Round – Trevor Foshey (MSU) def. Zeke Clark (Illinois) 6-2, 6-3; Niclas Braun (MSU) def. Brett Forman (Michigan State) 6-2, 6-4; Giovanni Oradini (MSU) def. No. 105 Chase Perez-Blanco (Florida) 6-2, 7-5; No. 119 Raheel Manji (Indiana) def. No. 67 Strahinja Rakic (MSU) 6-4, 6-3

Qualifying Doubles
First Round – Nuno Borges/Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. Jimmy Bendeck/Akos Kotorman (Baylor) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(8); Florian Broska/Giovanni Oradini (MSU) def. Ethan Nittolo/Petr Vodak (Buffalo) 6-2, 7-6
Second Round – Borges/Rakic (MSU) def. Mantas Bugailiskis/Xander Veys (Fresno State) 7-6, 6-3; McClain Kessler/Duarte Vale def. Broska/Oradini (MSU) 5-7, 6-3, 1-0(8)

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