EAST LANSING, Mich. – Boosted by a Top-10 upset win, Michigan State men’s tennis had five players advance to the Round of 32 at the ITA Midwest Regional after Friday’s action.
Freshman Matthew Forbes upset No. 9 Jack Anthrop of Ohio State to highlight the Spartan triumphs on the day.
Along with the five singles moving on to Saturday’s action, three doubles teams advanced. Saturday’s competition has been pushed back to a 10 a.m. start time at the Indoor Center, while the consolation play will be at the MSU Outdoor Tennis Center starting at 10:30 a.m.
Kicking off day two of the weekend for the Spartans was the duo team of freshman Mitchell Sheldon and junior David Saye, along with freshman Danial Rakhmatullayev and sophomore Taym Alazmeh. The tandem of Saye/Sheldon took on Franca/Savic, of Illinois Chicago, in the first round of doubles matches. They defeated Franca/Savic, 8-7 [7-3]. The pair went on to compete against Thompson/Magimay, falling 3-8.
Alazmeh/Rakhmatullayev went up against Komolpisut/Mackey from Notre Dame, winning that match 8-1. In the second round of the doubles Main Draw, the pair took on Casey/Pate of Northwestern, winning 8-2.
After a short break, Spartans were back in action with juniors Ozan Baris/Aristotelis Thanos, and senior Max Sheldon/freshman Matthew Forbes all taking part in doubles matches. Baris/Thanos defeated Moriarty/Kajzer of Western Michigan, 8-1. On the next court, Forbes/Sheldon were competing against Scarlett/Valencia from Illinois State, winning 8-2.
Singles matches started shortly after with Baris going up against Nad of Notre Dame, winning 6-2, 6-3. Senior Josh Portnoy competed against Goli from Northwestern, falling 4-6, 3-6. Forbes took on No. 9 ranked Anthrop from Ohio State, upsetting him, 6-4, 6-4.
Saye took on Iker Arrastia from Northern Illinois, winning his match 7-6 [8-6], 6-4. Max Sheldon competed against Lincoln Battle of Cleveland State, taking him down 6-4, 6-4. Thanos had a rocky start in his single matches but came back to win his match over Steams of Ohio State, 3-6, 7-6 [8-6], 6-2. Alazmeh had a tough match falling to Komopisut of Toledo, 4-6, 2-6. In the last match of the night, Rakhmatullayev fell to Nikita Filin, Ohio State University, 5-7, 6-2, 5-7.
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