Ozolins, Heck Take Doubles Title at ITA Midwest Regional Championships

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Illinois men’s tennis power doubles team Karlis Ozolins and Hunter Heck won the doubles title at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships Monday afternoon on the campus of the University of Michigan.

Ozolins and Heck took the win after beating Ohio State’s Alexander Bernard and JJ Tracy, 6-1, 6-2.

The victory comes after the pair reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament in May, the furthest any Illini doubles team has gone since 2007, when legend Kevin Anderson and his partner, Ryan Rowe, went to the National Championship round.

Heck and Ozolins will now compete in the ITA Fall National Championships alongside Kenta Miyoshi, who qualified by winning the singles title at the Milwaukee Tennis Classic in September.

Eight other Illini competed in the ITA Midwest Regionals, compiling a total of 12 wins in the singles main draw, while six Illini reached the Round of 16 in singles play.

Results 

Day 1

Round of 64

Jeremy Zhang/William Mroz (ILL) def. Patron Hanchaikul/Nicholas Steiglehner (UM) – 8-4

Mathis Debru/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) def. Alan Matyjas/Andrew Zimcosky (CSU) – 8-2

Round of 32

Karlis Ozolins/Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Bjorn Swenson/Mert Oral (UM) – 8-5

Lucas Horve/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Jean Marc Malkowski/Evan Lee (ND) – 8-6

Nathan Favier/Clement Mainguy (YSU) def. Jeremy Zhang/William Mroz (ILL) – 9-8 (9)

Mathis Debru/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) def. Arvid Hjalte/Adrian Dibildox (ISU) – 8-5

Round of 16

Karlis Ozolins/Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Chase Thompson/Yu Zhang (ND) – 9-8 (5)

Jack Anthrop/Preston Stearns (OSU) def. Lucas Horve/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) – 9-8 (7)

Ozan Baris/Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Mathis Debru/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) – 9-8 (3)

Day 2

Singles 

Round of 64

Saiprakash Goli (NU) def. Tyler Bowers (ILL) – 6-2, 5-7, 6-1

William Mroz (ILL) def. Noah Becker (ND) – 6-2, 6-1

Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Randy Wilson (UIC) – 7-6 (2), 6-3

Graydon Lair (MSU) def. Hunter Heck (ILL) – 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

Lucas Horve (ILL) def. Jean Marc Malkowski (ND) – 6-4, 6-3

Jeremy Zhang (ILL) def. Gleb Blekher (NU) – 6-4, 6-4

Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) def. Jackson Boone (WMU) – 7-5, 6-2

Chad Miller (NU) def. Mathis Debru (ILL) – 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3

Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Nishant Dabas (YSU) – 6-2, 7-5

Round of 32

William Mroz (ILL) def. Nino Ehrenschneider (UM) – 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-5

Oliver…