Beleleu Feature on ESPNU Tuesday

May 23, 2011

NORMAN, Okla. – ESPNU will feature Oklahoma senior Ionut “Johnny” Beleleu in-between the doubles and singles portion of the 2011 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship match on Tuesday, May 24. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT on ESPNU and Beleleu's segment will appear shortly after the conclusion of doubles.

ESPN's Mal Washington will talk with Beleleu about a tennis mishap that occurred a little over three years ago in which Beleleu endured a serious head injury during the conference opening dual against Texas A&M.

During the doubles portion, he and partner Ryan Thomas were fighting the Aggies in a heated match when a lofting ball soared over Beleleu. In a moment's time Beleleu lunged his body in the air and made a play on the high flying lob. Seconds later his head smacked the court and Beleleu was rushed to the hospital where he spent four days in intensive care and nearly three weeks in the hospital.

Today the Zalua, Romania, native has made a full recovery and led the Sooners at the No. 1 singles and doubles positions for the majority of the 2011 season. Beleleu is currently ranked 24th-nationally in singles and he and doubles partner Tsvetan Mihov are ranked No. 68. Additionally, since the accident Beleleu became a two-time All-Big 12 selection and this past fall he won the 2010 ITA/USTA Central Region Championship.

Following the conclusion of the team championships Beleleu and sophomore Costin Paval will compete in the singles portion of the 2011 NCAA Championships which begins Wednesday, May 25, at the Taube Tennis Center in Stanford, Calif.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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