Roberts earns 200th career win in triumph over No. 16 Oklahoma

Saturday, March 8

Starkville

1 p.m.

Mississippi State

Oklahoma

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Roberts earns 200th career win in triumph over No. 16 Oklahoma

March 08, 2025 | Men's Tennis

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By: Peyton Burkhalter, Student Assistant

STARKVILLE – Head Coach Matt Roberts claimed his 200^th career victory at Mississippi State as the Bulldogs defeated 16^th-ranked Oklahoma, 5-2, on Saturday. Roberts is the third coach in program history to reach the 200 career win mark with Tom Sawyer (216) and Andy Jackson (220) being the other two.

No. 29 Niccolo Baroni and Mario Martinez Serrano secured the first doubles victory on the day, ousting Oklahoma's tandem of Luis Alvarez and Kholo Montsi, 6-4. No. 4 Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez clinched the doubles point for MSU with another ranked win over No. 39 Oscar Lacides and Bruno Nhavene, 6-4.

Four singles victories by No. 72 Sanchez Martinez, No. 88 Jovanovic, No. 125 Baroni and Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes helped the Bulldogs defeat the Sooners. Sanchez Martinez defeated No. 76 Oscar Lacides, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, to earn his eighth ranked singles victory, which is the most on the team.

Records
No. 22 Mississippi State (13-3, 3-2 SEC)
No. 16 Oklahoma (10-4, 3-2 SEC)

Match Notes
• Roberts is the second-fastest coach in program history to achieve the 200 career win milestone, reaching it in 281 matches (program leader, Tom Sawyer, did it in 236 matches).
• Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez reached 47 career victories as a pair, tying George Coupland and Artem Illyshin for third place all-time in school history.
• With the ranked victory today over No. 39 Oscar Lacides and Bruno Nhavene, Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez have accumulated their eighth ranked win of the season (most on the team) and are 5-0 in SEC doubles play.
• Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez also now have seven clinches as a tandem, recording another one today. They now have seven clinches this season, which is the most on the team.
• Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes picked up his third SEC victory of the season when he beat Bruno Nhavene of Oklahoma, 6-4, 6-4. He is the only player to still be undefeated in SEC singles play, sitting at 3-0.
• Sanchez Martinez also recorded his eighth ranked win in singles play with the victory over No. 76 Oscar Lacides, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, which is the most on the team.

Quotable: "I'm just happy to have the culture we have and get to work with these amazing guys every day. I have this amazing opportunity to be a leader of our tennis program at Mississippi State. I am very fortunate for this job and creating this culture with Jake and Trevor. It means more than any of the wins I've had. It's nice to hear that I've got 200 wins but it either means I've been here a long time or I'm getting old or maybe both. I am just happy to have this job and build with the coaches that we have. We love coming to work every day with these guys, I love traveling with them, competing with them, and training with them. When you have that, it's priceless." Head Coach Matt Roberts on his 200^th career win.

Up Next
No. 22 Mississippi State will go back on the road to face No. 39 Vanderbilt at 3:30 p.m. next Thursday, Mar. 13.

Match Results
Doubles:
1. No. 4 Petar Jovanovic/Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. No. 39 Oscar Lacides/Bruno Nhavene (OU) 6-4
2. No. 29 Niccolo Baroni/Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU) def. Luis Alvarez/Kholo Montsi (OU) 6-4
3. Dusan Milanovic/Michal Novansky (MSU) vs. Ashai Harazaki/Alejandro Melero (OU) 6-5, unfinished
Order of finish: (2,1)

Singles:
1. No. 72 Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. No. 76 Oscar Lacides (OU) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
2. No. 88 Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def, Kholo Montsi (OU) 6-1, 6-4
3. No. 125 Niccolo Baroni (MSU) def. Orel Kimhl (OU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Luis Alvarez (OU) def. Dusan Milanovic (MSU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Jordan Hasson (OU) def. No. 92 Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU) 7-6(4), 6-4
6. Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes (MSU) def. Bruno Nhavene (OU) 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish: (2,4,6,5,3,1)

For more information on the Bulldog men's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateMT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.