Petar Jovanovic Sets Program Record for All-Time Wins; Bulldogs Sweep Tennessee

Friday, March 6

Starkville

3 p.m.

Mississippi State

Tennessee

Petar Jovanovic Sets Program Record for All-Time Wins; Bulldogs Sweep Tennessee

March 06, 2026 | Men's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Tad Couch, Athletic Communications Student Intern

STARKVILLE – With victories in both doubles and singles, Petar Jovanovic pushed his career total to 190 combined wins, surpassing former Bulldog great Nuno Borges for the program record for career wins.

The milestone makes Jovanovic the second player during the tenure of head coach Matt Roberts to break the program's career wins record, further cementing his legacy among the greatest players in school history.

Mississippi State (12-2, 3-1 SEC) seized control early by dominating doubles play to claim the opening point. The fifth-ranked tandem of Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez wasted little time setting the tone on court one, cruising to a 6-1 victory over Tennessee's Dragos Cazacu and Piotr Siekanowicz. Moments later, the 72^nd ranked duo of Mario Martinez Serrano and Michal Novansky matched that scoreline with a commanding 6-1 win on court two to clinch the doubles point for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs continued their momentum in singles, quickly building an insurmountable lead behind strong performances across the lineup. No. 55 Sanchez Martinez opened singles play with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 victory over Tennessee's Jose Garcia on court one. Soon after, Jovanovic added the defining moment to his historic day on court two. The eighth-ranked Bulldog defeated Alejandro Moreno 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), sealing the record-breaking 190th win of his career while helping extend Mississippi State's lead.

Mississippi State's depth proved too much for the Volunteers as the middle and lower courts battled through competitive matches to secure the sweep. No. 39 Martinez Serrano dropped the first set before rallying for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Cazacu on court three, while No. 125 Niccolo Baroni added another point with a 7-5, 6-4 win against Jan Kobierski at No. 4 singles. At the back of the lineup, Raphael Vaksmann and Ferrer Guimaraes each fought back after losing opening sets, with Vaksmann winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 and Ferrer Guimaraes closing out the match 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to complete the shutout.

The sweep capped a memorable afternoon for the Bulldogs and the Starkville crowd, highlighted by Jovanovic's historic accomplishment. By surpassing Borges' long-standing record, the senior continues to add to an already decorated career while helping lead Mississippi State through another strong SEC campaign.

Records
No. 8 Mississippi State (12-2, 3-1 SEC)
No. 61 Tennessee (7-9, 0-5 SEC)

Match Notes
• Petar Jovanovic recorded his 190th career combined singles and doubles victory, breaking the program's all-time wins record previously held by Nuno Borges (189).
• Jovanovic became the second player during the tenure of head coach Matt Roberts to break Mississippi State's all-time career wins record.
• Mississippi State secured the doubles point with dominant 6-1 victories on courts one and two.
• The Bulldogs won all six singles matches, with three victories coming in straight sets and three coming in comeback three-set wins.
• Mississippi State has faced a ranked opponent in every match during conference play; they have defeated three of four SEC opponents.
• Mario Martinez Martinez Serrano clinched the match for Mississippi State with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles.
• The Bulldogs took set two on every court.

Up Next
No. 5 Mississippi State hosts No. 8 Georgia at 1 p.m. CT on March 8^th at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.

Match Results
Doubles
1. No. 5 Petar Jovanovic/Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. Dragos Cazacu/Piotr Siekanowicz (TENN) – 6-1*
2. No. 72 Mario Martinez Serrano/Michal Novansky (MSU) def. Woodson McMillin/Alejandro Moreno (TENN) – 6-1*
3. No. 38 Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes/Bryan Hernandez Cortes (MSU) vs. Shion Itsusaki/Ethan Muza (TENN) – 2-4, unf.
Mississippi State won the Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 2, 1*

Singles
1. No. 55 Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. No. 78 Jose Garcia (TENN) – 6-1, 6-2
2. No. 8 Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def. No. 88 Alejandro Moreno (TENN) – 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
3. No. 39 Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU) def. Dragos Cazacu (TENN) – 3-6, 6-2, 6-3*
4. No. 125 Niccolo Baroni (MSU) def. Jan Kobierski (TENN) – 7-5, 6-4
5. Raphael Vaksmann (MSU) def. Boruch Skierkier (TENN) – 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes (MSU) def. Ethan Muza (TENN) – 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3*, 4, 6, 5
*Clincher

For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateMT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.

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