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Bulldog Challenge
State Closes Out Bulldog Challenge With Six Sunday Wins
October 25, 2020 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State men's tennis team shined once again in singles action on the final day at the Bulldog Challenge, with four Bulldogs - Florian Broska, Alberto Colas, Nemanja Malesevic, Nicolas Ocana, and Davide Tortora - earning victories. MSU also claimed wins in two of its three doubles matches Sunday.
The three-day event, which was held at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre, as well as the new Rula Tennis Pavilion, featured players from MSU, Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
As with the previous two sessions, the final day got started with doubles as the Bulldogs battled two Alabama tandems and one duo from Ole Miss. Broska paired with Ocana to power past Ole Miss' pair of Jon Soeren Hain and Tim Sandkaulen in a 7-5 decision. The freshman Bulldog duo of Malesevic and Tortora held off the Crimson Tide tandem of Jeremy Gschwendtner and Zhe Zhour in a 6-4 affair. Wrapping up State's doubles action was the team of Colas and Gregor Ramskogler who fell in a tight 7-6(4) decision to Patrick Naukovalta and Riccardo Roberto of Alabama.
In singles competition, Tortora ousted Ole Miss' Hain in a quick 6-3, 6-4 affair. All of State's other victories would come in three-set marathons.
The Bulldog junior Broska dropped his first set versus the Crimson Tide's Kaukovalta, but stormed back for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 triumph. Finishing right behind him would be the freshman Ocana who fought his way to a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 win over Bama's Marcelo Sepulveda Garza. In the last of MSU's three-set wins, Colas would drop his first set 6-4 to the Tide's Zhou but fight back for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
In State's other three contests, the true freshman Malesevic put up a valiant effort against the Rebel Sandkaulen – a top 70-ranked player a year ago - before falling 6-1, 0-6, 7-5. Finishing up behind him would be Ramskogler as he would go the distance against Bama's Roberto, ultimately falling 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. Indoors at the Rula Tennis Pavilion, junior Bulldog Stedman Strickland battled strong in a close first set with Bama's Alexey Nesterov before dropping a 6-4, 6-2 decision.
MSU Men's Tennis Results At The Bulldog Challenge - Day 3 – October 25, 2020
A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre/Rula Tennis Pavilion – Starkville, Miss.
DOUBLES
Florian Broska/Nicolas Ocana (MSU) def. Jon Soeren Hain/Tim Sandkaulen (UM) 7-5; Patrick Kaukovalta/Riccardo Roberto (UA) def. Alberto Colas/Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) 7-6(4); Nemanja Malesevic/Davide Tortora (MSU) def. Jeremy Gschwendtner/Zhe Zhou (UA) 6-4
SINGLES
Florian Broska (MSU) def. Patrick Kaukovalta (UA) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1; Alberto Colas (MSU) def. Zhe Zhou (UA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4; Tim Sandkaulen (UM) def. Nemanja Malesevic (MSU) 6-1, 0-6, 7-5; Riccardo Roberto (UA) def. Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-3; Davide Tortora (MSU) def. Jan Soeren Hain (UM) 6-3, 6-4; Nicolas Ocana (MSU) def. Marcelo Sepulveda Garza (UA) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4; Alexey Nesterov (UA) def. Stedman Strickland (MSU) 6-4, 6-2.
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Players Mentioned
