Mississippi State
Memphis
Milanovic Clinches Match For MSU At Memphis
February 07, 2024 | Men's Tennis
MEMPHIS, Tenn., - Despite being down one of its top talents, Mississippi State found a way to win on the road with a gutsy 4-3 victory at Memphis on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs were without senior leader Nemanja Malesevic but showcased their sheer will and unbridled determination during an ultra-competitive match with the Tigers to get back into the win column.
"We knew today would be a battle and playing without 'Memo' was going to be a challenge," said head coach Matt Roberts. "The boys rallied and showed a lot of resilience throughout the match. (Petar Jovanovic) and (Dusan Milanovic) were huge for us coming back after dropping their first sets. This win gives the boys some positive feedback for their hard work these last two weeks. We will keep digging."
The match came down to the third set of the final court, but Milanovic came through for MSU (5-3). The junior fell in a first-set tiebreaker to No. 123 Pau Fanlo 6-7(4) but bounced back to clinch the match by claiming 6-3, 6-1 wins in the final two sets.
Things went back-and-forth throughout the entirety of the afternoon. Despite a 6-3 win by Milanovic and Carles Hernandez over Conor Gannon and Harry Rock, it was Memphis that earned the doubles point early.
Hernandez evened things up early on in singles by making short work of Gannon 6-3, 6-1. Benito Sanchez Martinez gave the Bulldogs their first lead by sinking Rock in three sets 7-5, 0-6, 6-3 but Memphis quickly tied it again as Juan Zabala defeated Radomir Tomic 7-5, 6-2.
Jovanovic, now ranked 26th in singles, pulled State one point closer to victory by battling back over Pablo Alemany 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. The now 6-2 Tigers, however, had other ideas and knotted the score once more when Mortiz Kudernatsch spoiled Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes' homecoming with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 to set the stage for Milanovic's late match heroics.
After back-to-back matches in Tennessee, the Bulldogs return home for a pair of home dates. Mississippi State hosts North Florida on Friday at 5 p.m. and has a rematch scheduled with VCU on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Additionally, the Ospreys and Rams will play a neutral site match at MSU on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Mississippi State 4, Memphis 3
Leftwich Tennis Center | Memphis, Tenn.
Feb. 7, 2024
Doubles
1. Charlie Barry/Pablo Alemany (MEM) def. No. 29 Petar Jovanovic/Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) 6-2
2. Carles Hernandez / Dusan Milanovic (MSU) def. Harry Rock/Conor Gannon (MEM) 6-3
3. Pau Fanlo/Sam Reeve (MEM) def. Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes/Marshall Landry (MSU) 6-4
Order of finish: (1,2,3)
Singles
1. No. 26 Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def. Pablo Alemany (MEM) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Carles Hernandez (MSU) def. Conor Gannon (MEM) 6-3, 6-1
3. Dusan Milanovic (MSU) def. No. 123 Pau Fanlo (MEM) 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-1
4. Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. Harry Rock (MEM) 7-5, 0-6, 6-3
5. Juan Zabala (MEM) def. Radomir Tomic (MSU) 7-5, 6-2
6. Mortiz Kudernatsch (MEM) def. Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes (MSU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
Order of finish: (2,4,5,1,6,3)
For more information on the Bulldog men's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateMT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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