Waco, Texas – Michigan State men’s tennis had two players in action in the opening day of the NCAA Individual Championships and the Spartan duo started strong with both players moving on to the Round of 32.
This is the first time in program history two players have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Junior Ozan Baris and redshirt sophomore Aristotelis Thanos both won their matches in straight sets, but in very different styles, with Baris winning in a brisk, 6-1, 6-2 rout. Thanos won set one 6-2, before getting down 4-0 in the second set, but made a frenzied comeback and rallied for a 6-4 second-set win to complete the sweep.
Baris started out action for the Spartans in the first round taking on Samir Banerjee from Stanford. Baris dominated the first set with 100 percent service games won and 80 percent service points won. Baris quickly took the first set, winning, 6-1. The next set also ended in favor of Baris, 6-2, moving him onto Round 32 of the tournament.
Thanos took on Alex Kotzen from Tennessee, and in the first set, Thanos made quick work of Kotzen, winning 6-2. The first set was controlled by Thanos, who led with 70 percent total serve points won and 50 percent break points won. Starting the second set, Thanos could not find his momentum from the first set falling 0-4, before finding his inner fight and rallying to win, 6-4.
Both Spartans return to the court for Wednesday’s Round of 32, with Baris meeting Carl Emil Overback (Cal Berkley) at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT, while Thanos faces Colton Smith (Arizona) at 2 pm. ET / 1 p.m. CT.
Keep up with the Spartans progress in the NCAA Individual Championships with the Tournament Central link at MSUSpartans.com.
Singles Results:
Ozan Baris def. Samir Banerjee (Stan) 6-2, 6-1
Aristotelis Thanos def. Alex Kotzen (Tenn) 6-2, 6-4
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