Mississippi State
NCAA Individual Championships
State Concludes Play At NCAAs
May 24, 2021 | Men's Tennis
ORLANDO, Fla. – On the second day of play at the NCAA Individual Championships Monday, Mississippi State's remaining contingent in the tournament saw its 2021 campaign officially come to a close. The Bulldogs wrapped up a season which saw them reach the NCAA Round of 16 as a team for the 15th time overall, as well as the fourth time in the last five years in which the tournament has been held.
In action Monday, both 20th-ranked Bulldog Giovanni Oradini and 48th-ranked Florian Broska fought valiantly in the second round of the NCAA Singles Championship before both dropped hard-fought three-set affairs to start the day for the Maroon and White.
Oradini would take some time to find his groove as TCU's 17th-ranked Luc Fomba found his own early on, grabbing the opening set 6-2. In the second set, the Bulldog senior would respond, breaking at 4-3 and then serving out the second set 6-3. With the third set resulting in an exchange of blows and deuce points, TCU's Fomba would come out on top in the match 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.
The three-time All-American ended his stellar Bulldog career having amassed 164 total wins in the Maroon and White, tying him for 10th all-time in MSU men's tennis history for overall victories. The Rovereto, Italy, product is a three-time All-SEC selection (twice First Team) and a two-time member of the SEC All-Tournament Team. He also reached the NCAA Singles Round of 16 (2018) and quarterfinals (2019) as well as the NCAA Doubles semifinals (2019).
In the second match of the day, the 48th-ranked Broska would have his own three-set battle against Baylor's 21st-ranked Adrian Boitan. Starting things off in an aggressive manner, Broska cruised through the first set 6-1 to establish an early lead. The second set would also be decided by a 6-1 margin but in Boitan's favor to even the score. Though Broska made a late push in the third, the Bear standout continued his momentum, ultimately coming out on top 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.
In his first NCAA Singles Championship appearance, Broska upended a Top 16 seed in his opener. This year, he registered a stout 20-16 overall singles record and was a Second Team All-SEC honoree as well. The Eitelborn, Germany, native will return for his final season as a Bulldog next year.
In the NCAA Doubles draw Monday, Broska and partner Gregor Ramskogler faced a tall challenge as the 15th-ranked Bulldog duo faced TCU's second-ranked and fourth-seeded pair of Luc Fomba and Alastair Gray. The first set of the battle stayed on serve until 4-4 when the Horned Frogs earned a service break and then served out the set 6-4. In the second, the teams were even until 3-3 when TCU would go on a three-game tear to complete a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Broska and Ramskogler ended 2020-21 with a 12-8 record together which included six ranked wins, four in the top 25.
2021 NCAA Men's Individual Tennis Championships
May 24, 2021
Orlando, Fla. – USTA National Campus
Singles
Second Round - #17 Luc Fomba (TCU) def. #20 Giovanni Oradini (Mississippi State) 6-2, 3-6, 6-0; #21 Adrian Boitan (Baylor) def. #48 Florian Broska (Mississippi State) 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles
First Round - #2 Luc Fomba/Alastair Gray (TCU) [4] def. #15 Florian Broska/Gregor Ramskogler (Mississippi State) 6-4, 6-3.
Current national rankings precede player names; tournament seedings are in brackets
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