Jovanovic, Sanchez Martinez Qualify For NCAAs
October 20, 2024 | Men's Tennis
BATON ROUGE, La. – For the second consecutive season, No. 12 Petar Jovanovic and No. 107 Benito Sanchez Martinez will both be representing Mississippi State at the NCAA Individual Championships.
Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez each qualified for NCAAs by winning their singles semifinals matches at the ITA Southern Regional Championships on Sunday. Jovanovic cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Auburn's Billy Blaydes while Sanchez Martinez edged his Bulldog teammate, No. 60 Mario Martinez Serrano. Â
Martinez Serrano struck first with a 6-2 victory in the opening set, but Sanchez Martinez came roaring back to take the final two sets 6-3, 6-2 to secure the victory.
Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez will share the singles championship and move on to play at the NCAA Singles Championships next month in Waco, Texas.
Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez, who are ranked No. 1 nationally in doubles, also have a chance to qualify to compete in doubles at that event as well. The Bulldog junior duo knocked off LSU's 20th-ranked tandem of Aleksi Lofman and Julien Penzlin in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals of the ITA Southern Regional Championships and will take on the Auburn team of Blaydes and William Nolen in the finals on Monday at 10 a.m. with the winner advancing to the NCAA Doubles Championships.
Martinez Serrano will also be in action on Monday as he and Blaydes square off at 2 p.m. to decide who takes home third place in singles from the ITA Southern Regional Championships.
ITA Southern Regional ChampionshipsLSU Tennis Complex | Baton Rouge, La.
Oct. 20, 2024
Singles:
Main Draw Semifinals
No. 12 Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def. Billy Blaydes (Auburn): 6-1, 6-2
No. 107 Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. No. 60 Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU): 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
Doubles:
Main Draw Semifinals
No. 1 Petar Jovanovic/Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. Aleksi Lofman/Julien Penzlin (LSU): 6-3, 6-4
Billy Blaydes/Will Nolan (Auburn) def. Niccolo Baroni/Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU): 6-2, 7-6(4)
For more information on the Bulldog men's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateMT" on X, Instagram and Facebook. Â
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Players Mentioned
