Sooners Take Six from Georgia Tech

ATLANTA, Ga. – The second-ranked Oklahoma men's tennis team began its 2016 schedule on Saturday with six individual wins on the first day of play at the MLK Invitational in Atlanta, Ga.

Playing in hidden dual format, OU grabbed a pair of wins in doubles and took four of its six singles matches against No. 43 Georgia Tech. While all play will count towards players' individual records and rankings, the results will not count towards the teams' records.

“We came out with good energy and played the big points well."
- Asst. Coach Bobby Reynolds

“We did a really good job in doubles,” Oklahoma assistant coach Bobby Reynolds said. “We came out with good energy and played the big points well. In singles, our guys were still trying to shake off the first-match jitters and nerves and everything that goes with starting the season off. The guys played really well and fought hard. Some of the first sets went our way, and then Georgia Tech picked it up in the second sets. The guys found a way to come out in the third set and get on top of them and roll them.”

The Sooners started the day in singles where freshman Andre Biro delivered the first result of the day, winning 6-0, 7-5 over Daniel Yun. Making his collegiate debut, Biro won the first nine games of the match and outlasted a late charge from Yun to take the win.

“He did great,” Reynolds said. “He has gelled with this team so well. He has only been here three days with these guys and with the relationships he's made it's almost like he's been here two years. He was out there playing with a smile and he's still learning college tennis.”

Sophomore Spencer Papa also got in the win column for OU. The Edmond, Okla., native took the first set from Nathan Rakitt 6-1, but dropped the second 5-7. Papa dominated the third and deciding set, taking it 6-1, to win the match.

OU also got singles wins from juniors Alex Ghilea and Florin Bragusi. Ghilea toppled Carlos Benito 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 and Bragusi took a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 win from Cole Fiegel.

In doubles, senior Axel Alvarez and Papa paired for the first time to take down Christopher Eubanks and Rakitt by virtue of a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-3). The Sooners' second doubles win came from the pairing of Ghilea and Biro, whose match also went to a tiebreaker, with the OU duo coming out on top 8-6.

Alvarez and redshirt freshman John Milstead were also in singles action on Saturday. Alvarez, the reigning national and Big 12 player of the year, dropped his match with 6^th-ranked Eubanks, while Milstead fell to Casey Kay in straight sets.

“Everybody just played solid,” Reynolds said. “I don't think anyone played their best tennis, but I was really happy with the level. I'm hoping that going into tomorrow these guys bump it up a little. Ole Miss will be tough in the morning. They are a pretty good team, so we'll be looking forward to it.”

Oklahoma will be back in action on Sunday as it takes on No. 19 Ole Miss at 9 a.m. CT in the same format. Ole Miss's roster features one player ranked in singles, No. 36 Stefan Lindmark. OU will see the 7^th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Monday at 9 a.m. CT.

MLK INVITATIONAL DAY ONE RESULTS

DOUBLES

Alex Ghilea/Andre Biro def. Casey Kay/Cole Fiegel - 7-6 (8-6)
Axel Alvarez Llamas/Spencer Papa def. Christopher Eubanks/Nathan Rakitt - 7-6 (7-3)
Carlos Benito/Andrew Li def. Florin Bragusi/John Milstead - 6-3

SINGLES

Spencer Papa def. Nathan Rakitt - 6-1, 5-7, 6-1
^#6Christopher Eubanks def. ^#60Axel Alvarez Llamas - 6-4, 7-5
Florin Bragusi def. Cole Fiegel - 6-3, 3-6, 6-0
^#92Alex Ghilea def. Carlos Benito - 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
Andre Biro def. Daniel Yun - 6-0, 7-5
Casey Kay def. John Milstead - 7-6, 6-3

The MLK Invitational is a three-day tournament featuring host school Georgia Tech, Georgia, Columbia and Oklahoma. Each match is played in hidden dual format, meaning individual matches count towards a player's record, but no team result will be given. At the conclusion of the tournament an individual champion will be crowned in both singles and doubles.

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

MLK INVITATIONAL DAY ONE RESULTS

DOUBLES

SINGLES

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Axel Alvarez Llamas

Florin Bragusi

Alex Ghilea

John Milstead

Spencer Papa

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics