Ghilea Wins Central Region Singles Championship

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Oklahoma men's tennis player Alex Ghilea claimed the 2015 ITA Central Region Singles Championship in Fayetteville, Ark., on Monday.

Ghilea entered the tournament as the No. 3 overall seed and after five wins in the 124-player main draw drew 12^th-seeded Julian Cash of Oklahoma State in the final. Ghilea and Cash split the first two sets, both in close fashion, with Ghilea taking the first 6-4 and Cash grabbing the second 7-5.

I'm very proud of his effort. He was able to sustain a high level the entire week. He deserves to go to New York.
Head Coach John Roddick

In the third and decisive set, Ghilea took control early and did not relent. He cruised to a 6-2 win to claim the match and the championship.

“It was a great week for Alex,” head coach John Roddick said. “I'm very proud of his effort. He was able to sustain a high level the entire week. He deserves to go to New York.”

The win secures Ghilea a berth in the 2015 USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., on Nov. 12-15. The USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships serves as the culmination of the fall season. Hosted by Columbia University, this prestigious event features a 32-player singles draw made up of the best players from around the country.

A junior from Neamt, Romania, Ghilea received a bye in the first round and then rattled off six straight wins, including three over Oklahoma State Cowboys, to advance to claim the title. Ghilea dropped just two sets the entire tournament.

Ghilea's win gives the Sooners' the Central Region singles title for the sixth year in a row dating back to 2010. Ghilea joins senior Axel Alvarez as active Sooners to have claimed the title. Alvarez won in both 2013 and 2014.

The Sooners are back in action next weekend for the USTA Charlottesville Challenger Oct. 30 – Nov. 7 in Charlottesville, Va.

For more information on Oklahoma Men's Tennis, follow the team on Twitter at @OU_MTennis.