Photo by: Sloane Bush/MSU Athletics
Men's Tennis Rolls Out Fall Schedule
September 01, 2021 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's men's tennis team returns to the courts this fall following another top 15 finish and the program's 11th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Bulldogs could have up to 10 events on tap this fall including four International Tennis Federation (ITF) M15 tournaments, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championships and are also hosting their own invitational at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
"We always try to mix in some pro tournaments because these guys came to college to develop into pros so we want to give them opportunities to work on their pro ranking," said Matt Roberts, who is entering his seventh season as head coach. "The other goal is to try and qualify and advance for (ITA) Nationals in San Diego. Our guys played a lot over the summer and they're excited and ready to get out and play in the fall."
MSU will send players to Fayetteville, Arkansas on Sept. 18-26 and again on Oct. 31-Nov. 7 to participate in ITF M15 events and will also make appearances in Tallahassee, Florida from Oct. 23-31 and Shreveport, Louisiana on Nov. 6-14 as well.
The Bulldogs will also welcome Tulane, Alabama and Michigan to campus for the MSU Bulldog Invitational held on Oct. 1-3.
State will also take part in the Clemson Invite on Oct. 8-10 and the Georgia Tech Invitational on Nov. 5-7.
Also in October, the Bulldogs will take part in two ITA events. Mississippi State will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma for ITA All-Americans on Oct. 5-10 and also to Auburn, Alabama for the ITA Southern Regionals on Oct. 14-18 in hopes of qualifying for ITA Fall Nationals on Nov. 4-7.
"I think our whole team could qualify for Nationals," Roberts said. "Gregor (Ramskogler) played in our lineup around six last year and he made Nationals two years ago. 'Dade' (Davide Tortora) was one match away from making Nationals. 'Flo' (Florian Broska) is one of the best players in college right now. 'Memo' (Nemanja Malesevic) is showing he can play at a very high level and I think Carles (Hernandez) and Alberto (Colas) could really make a run this fall."
All seven players on the Bulldogs' roster this fall are returnees from last year's 15th-ranked squad that finished with an 18-10 record. Broska was a second team All-SEC selection last spring while Malesevic earned ITA Southern Region Rookie of the Year and SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
MSU began fall practices on Aug. 19 and the coaches can already tell a difference in having so many veteran players returning.
"Part of our goal here is to make them men on and off the court," said assistant coach Jake Jacoby. "I've seen just in these two or three weeks already that a lot of the guys that were 'young' last year are acting pretty mature so far. They're getting after it and are ready to play some guys other than their teammates."
One player making huge strides since last season has been Hernandez. The Spaniard won three of his final four matches as a freshman in the spring – including two NCAA victories – and continued that success on the summer circuit.
"Carles made a pretty big jump late in the spring and this summer," Roberts said. "He's shown he can beat some of the best players in college based off of their ATP ranking. He had a really good summer and was knocking on the door to really have a breakthrough in these pro tournaments."
The Bulldogs could have up to 10 events on tap this fall including four International Tennis Federation (ITF) M15 tournaments, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American Championships and are also hosting their own invitational at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
"We always try to mix in some pro tournaments because these guys came to college to develop into pros so we want to give them opportunities to work on their pro ranking," said Matt Roberts, who is entering his seventh season as head coach. "The other goal is to try and qualify and advance for (ITA) Nationals in San Diego. Our guys played a lot over the summer and they're excited and ready to get out and play in the fall."
MSU will send players to Fayetteville, Arkansas on Sept. 18-26 and again on Oct. 31-Nov. 7 to participate in ITF M15 events and will also make appearances in Tallahassee, Florida from Oct. 23-31 and Shreveport, Louisiana on Nov. 6-14 as well.
The Bulldogs will also welcome Tulane, Alabama and Michigan to campus for the MSU Bulldog Invitational held on Oct. 1-3.
State will also take part in the Clemson Invite on Oct. 8-10 and the Georgia Tech Invitational on Nov. 5-7.
Also in October, the Bulldogs will take part in two ITA events. Mississippi State will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma for ITA All-Americans on Oct. 5-10 and also to Auburn, Alabama for the ITA Southern Regionals on Oct. 14-18 in hopes of qualifying for ITA Fall Nationals on Nov. 4-7.
"I think our whole team could qualify for Nationals," Roberts said. "Gregor (Ramskogler) played in our lineup around six last year and he made Nationals two years ago. 'Dade' (Davide Tortora) was one match away from making Nationals. 'Flo' (Florian Broska) is one of the best players in college right now. 'Memo' (Nemanja Malesevic) is showing he can play at a very high level and I think Carles (Hernandez) and Alberto (Colas) could really make a run this fall."
All seven players on the Bulldogs' roster this fall are returnees from last year's 15th-ranked squad that finished with an 18-10 record. Broska was a second team All-SEC selection last spring while Malesevic earned ITA Southern Region Rookie of the Year and SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
MSU began fall practices on Aug. 19 and the coaches can already tell a difference in having so many veteran players returning.
"Part of our goal here is to make them men on and off the court," said assistant coach Jake Jacoby. "I've seen just in these two or three weeks already that a lot of the guys that were 'young' last year are acting pretty mature so far. They're getting after it and are ready to play some guys other than their teammates."
One player making huge strides since last season has been Hernandez. The Spaniard won three of his final four matches as a freshman in the spring – including two NCAA victories – and continued that success on the summer circuit.
"Carles made a pretty big jump late in the spring and this summer," Roberts said. "He's shown he can beat some of the best players in college based off of their ATP ranking. He had a really good summer and was knocking on the door to really have a breakthrough in these pro tournaments."
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