TULSA, Okla., – Mississippi State’s Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez are on a roll.
The sophomore doubles duo that had only teamed together three times prior to the ITA All-American Championships has now won five matches at the event, three of which were against ranked opponents.
Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez pulled off their biggest upset in the main draw Round of 16 on Thursday as they knocked off fifth-ranked Robin Catry and Luca Staeheli of N.C. State 6-4, 6-4.
It was the highest-ranked win by a Bulldog tandem since Nemanja Malesevic and Michal Novansky took down then No. 5 Trent Bryde and Ethan Quinn 6-2 on the road at Georgia on April 13 earlier this year.
Jovanovic and Sanchez Martinez are set to square off in the quarterfinals against sixth-ranked Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins on Friday at 4 p.m.
Jovanovic also earned a ranked singles win on Thursday. The 68th-ranked native of Montenegro downed No. 79 Magnus Johnson of Florida in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. He will battle USC’s Lodewijk Weststrate in the consolation Round of 16 on Friday at 10:30 a.m.
MSU’s highest-ranked singles competitor, No. 36 Dusan Milanovic, fought hard during his match with fourth-ranked Murphy Cassone of Arizona State on Thursday. Cassone, however, narrowly edged out Milanovic 6-4, 7-6(4) to advance and end the junior Bulldogs’ time in Tulsa.
ITA All-American Championship
Michael D. Case Tennis Center | Tulsa, Okla.
Oct. 5, 2023
Singles Main Draw Second Round
No. 4 Murphy Cassone (Arizona State) def. No. 36 Dusan Milanovic (MSU) 6-4, 7-6(4)
Singles Main Draw Consolation First Round
No. 68 Petar Jovanovic def. No. 79 Magnus Johnson (Florida) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles Main Draw Round of 16
Petar Jovanovic/Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. No. 5 Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli (N.C. State) 6-4, 6-4
For more information on the Bulldog men’s tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for “HailStateMT” on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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