More Main Draw Success For MSU
September 19, 2024 | Men's Tennis
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Mississippi State sent four members of its men's tennis team to compete in the ITF Fayetteville 15K this week and all four are advancing to the quarterfinals of the singles main draw.
Additionally, the Bulldog duo of Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez – the top collegiate tandem in the country – earned a spot in the semifinals on Thursday after rallying back to edge teammates Niccolo Baroni and Mario Martinez Serrano in a grueling three-set battle 6-7(12), 6-2, 1-0[8].
All four MSU student-athletes competing at the event experienced success in the second round of singles on Thursday. Jovanovic recorded a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Luis Carlos Alvarez Valdez of Mexico while Baroni beat American Jagger Leach 7-6(7), 6-3 in straight sets as well.
After winning his first set 6-1 over Australian Derek Pham, Sanchez Martinez moved on when Pham retired. It was the fourth singles win and sixth overall for Sanchez Martinez at the event.
Martinez Serrano may have tallied the most impressive win of the day as he downed the third-overall seed in the tournament, Kholowam Montsi of South Africa, 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-2.
The Bulldog singles quartet will be back in action on Friday trying to earn a slot in the semifinals. Jovanovic squares off against the No. 1 seed Timo Legout, a freshman at Texas by way of France, at 10 a.m. while Sanchez Martinez meets former Florida standout Alfredo Perez, also at 10 a.m.
Following Sanchez Martinez's match, Baroni hits the court against Nigerian Christopher Bulus and Martinez Serrano will be the next match behind Jovanovic versus LSU sophomore Alessio Vasquez Gehrke of Germany.
Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez will have State's final match on Friday afternoon as they compete against the American team of Perez and his partner Jack Vance.
ITF Fayetteville 15KÂBillingsley Tennis Center | Fayetteville, Ark.
Sept. 19, 2024
Singles:
Main Draw Second Round
Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU / Germany) def. Derek Pham (Oklahoma State / Australia): 6-1, 0-0 [ret.]
Petar Jovanovic (MSU / Montenegro) def. Luis Carlos Alvarez Valdez (Mexico): 6-2, 6-4
Niccolo Baroni (MSU / Italy) def. Jagger Leach (USA): 7-6(7), 6-3
Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU / Spain) def. Khololwam Montsi (South Africa): 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-2
Doubles:
Main Draw Quarterfinals
Benito Sanchez Martinez / Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def. Niccolo Baroni / Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU): 7-6(12), 6-2, 1-0[8]
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
