MSU's doubles team of Nuno Borges and Strahinja Rakic became the first Bulldog pair to finish the season at No. 1 nationally.
Borges/Rakic Finish No. 1 Nationally; Four Bulldogs Ranked In Final ITA Rankings
May 30, 2018 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A trio of Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Americans highlight the Mississippi State men's tennis team's members in the final singles and doubles rankings released Wednesday.
Leading the pack for the Maroon and White is the top-ranked All-American doubles tandem of Nuno Borges and Strahinja Rakic, who become the first Bulldog duo to finish No. 1 nationally after a stellar season that saw them rise from unranked in March to the top spot just before the NCAA Team Championship. Borges and Rakic also earned the top seed in the NCAA Doubles Championship, becoming the first Bulldog tandem to do so, and reached the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Borges also finished the season in the top five of the singles rankings for the second year in a row. The two-time singles All-American remained in the top five of the ITA singles rankings all season, reaching as high as second nationally on multiple occasions. Borges was once again an integral part of the Bulldog lineup, going 27-7 overall and reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Singles Championship for the second year in a row.
In addition to being ranked No. 1 in doubles, All-SEC first teamer Rakic also finished the season ranked No. 79 after a solid season at the No. 3 singles spot for the Bulldogs.
Sophomore Giovanni Oradini also found himself ranked in both the singles and doubles rankings, coming in at 15th and 26th respectively. The Rovereto, Italy, product earned singles All-American status as an at-large participant in the NCAA Singles Championship after reaching the Round of 16 with a pair of three-set victories. Oradini led the Maroon and White in singles wins in 2017-18 with 33. Oradini also earned All-SEC First Team honors after going 17-5 from the No. 2 singles spot in just his second season on campus.
In doubles, Oradini teamed up with junior Niclas Braun to form one of the most formidable doubles tandems in the SEC, going a perfect 10-0 in league play, and finished the season ranked 26th nationally—a career-best for the duo. Braun and Oradini dropped just three matches overall in 2017-18 and won 12 matches in a row to start the spring slate.
Next Up For MSU…
The Bulldogs await the release of the final ITA regional rankings, which will be released June 6.
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Leading the pack for the Maroon and White is the top-ranked All-American doubles tandem of Nuno Borges and Strahinja Rakic, who become the first Bulldog duo to finish No. 1 nationally after a stellar season that saw them rise from unranked in March to the top spot just before the NCAA Team Championship. Borges and Rakic also earned the top seed in the NCAA Doubles Championship, becoming the first Bulldog tandem to do so, and reached the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Borges also finished the season in the top five of the singles rankings for the second year in a row. The two-time singles All-American remained in the top five of the ITA singles rankings all season, reaching as high as second nationally on multiple occasions. Borges was once again an integral part of the Bulldog lineup, going 27-7 overall and reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Singles Championship for the second year in a row.
In addition to being ranked No. 1 in doubles, All-SEC first teamer Rakic also finished the season ranked No. 79 after a solid season at the No. 3 singles spot for the Bulldogs.
Sophomore Giovanni Oradini also found himself ranked in both the singles and doubles rankings, coming in at 15th and 26th respectively. The Rovereto, Italy, product earned singles All-American status as an at-large participant in the NCAA Singles Championship after reaching the Round of 16 with a pair of three-set victories. Oradini led the Maroon and White in singles wins in 2017-18 with 33. Oradini also earned All-SEC First Team honors after going 17-5 from the No. 2 singles spot in just his second season on campus.
In doubles, Oradini teamed up with junior Niclas Braun to form one of the most formidable doubles tandems in the SEC, going a perfect 10-0 in league play, and finished the season ranked 26th nationally—a career-best for the duo. Braun and Oradini dropped just three matches overall in 2017-18 and won 12 matches in a row to start the spring slate.
Next Up For MSU…
The Bulldogs await the release of the final ITA regional rankings, which will be released June 6.
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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