SDSU MEN'S TENNIS COMPLETES DAY ONE OF WEEKEND TOURNAMENTS

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Five Aztecs competing in Tucson, San Francisco

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: Marko Goles-Babic was victorious in his opening match at the Battle in the Bay Classic on Friday.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

September 24, 2016 (San Diego) - The San Diego State men’s tennis team opened its 2016 fall schedule on Friday with five players competing in two tournaments at the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Ariz., and the Battle in the Bay Classic in San Francisco, Calif.

At the Wildcat Invite, freshman Joel Popov received a first-round bye in the “A” singles draw before outlasting Adrian Legaretta of Grand Canyon in three sets, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. The Aztec newcomer will square off against New Mexico State’s Christopher Goncalves in the semifinals on Saturday morning.

Earlier, Goncalves dispatched David Hough, another SDSU rookie, by a 6-2, 6-3 count after Hough emerged triumphant over Tim Handel of Northern Arizona, 6-3, 6-4, in the round of 16.

Hough and Popov also joined forces in doubles competition, but experienced a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Grand Canyon’s Legaretta and Phillip Kuehnen.

In “B” singles draw action, meanwhile, Aztec sophomore Raul de la Torre also received a first-round bye, but was unable to get past Mauricio Benitez of New Mexico State in the quarterfinals, where his Aggie adversary claimed a straight-set decision, 6-0, 6-4.

Shifting to the Bay Area, SDSU’s Marko Goles-Babic emerged triumphant in his singles match with UC Santa Barbara’s Cody Rakela, 6-3, 7-6(4) and will face Johan Jonhagen of host San Francisco on Saturday in the round of 16. However, sophomore Sander Gjoels-Andersen was not as fortunate in his encounter with another Gaucho opponent Morgan Mays, falling by a 6-4, 6-3 score.

Gjoels-Anderson and Goles-Babic will combine for doubles play against the Boise State tandem of Kyle Butters and Jack Heslin on Saturday morning, before Gjoels-Andersen tangles with Pepperdine’s Jack Van Slyke in the singles consolation bracket.

Tournament play continues for San Diego State at both sites through Sunday.

Wildcat Invitational

Ventana Golf and Racquet Club

Tucson, Ariz.

SDSU Results Only

A Draw Singles

David Hough (SDSU) def. Tim Handel (NAU), 6-3, 6-4

Joel Popov (SDSU) def. Adrian Legaretta (GCU), 7-6, 3-6, 6-2

Christopher Goncalves (NMSU) def. David Hough (SDSU), 6-2, 6-3

B Draw Singles

Mauricio Benitez (NMSU) def. Raul de la Torre (SDSU), 6-0, 6-4

College Doubles

Legaretta-Kuehnen (GCU) def. Hough-Popov (SDSU), 6-1

Battle in the Bay Classic

California Tennis Center

San Francisco, Calif.

SDSU Results Only

Men’s Open Singles

Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) def. Cody Rakela (UCSB), 6-3, 7-6(4)

Morgan Mays (UCSB) def. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU), 6-4, 6-3

Updated draws with Friday results

Brackets


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