Ghilea Wins In Round 2, Becomes All-American

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma men's tennis senior Alex Ghilea picked up a 6-4, 6-4 win over Texas's Harrison Scott in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Singles Championship in Athens, Ga., on Thursday. By virtue of advancing to the round of 16, Ghilea becomes the seventh Sooner in program history to earn All-America honors in singles (eighth All-American overall).

“Alex once again played a great match against a tough opponent,” Oklahoma head coach Nick Crowell said. “It's always tough to play Harrison Scott from Texas. He plays a big game and really takes it to you. Alex did a great job neutralizing points and extending rallies. He went on the offensive when he had chances.”

Ghilea, who swept 18^th-ranked Constantin Schmitz of Tulane 6-0, 6-0 in the first round on Wednesday, was back to his winning ways on Thursday. The Neamt, Romania, native was down an early break in the first set but stormed back to the lead to take the frame 6-4.

“I was pretty nervous going in because I knew if I won I'd get the All-American spot, which was my objective when I came into the singles tournament,” Ghilea said. “I was a little tentative in the beginning. He started well and was 3-1 up, but I relaxed a little and started to play more aggressive. I just got back to 3-all and then broke and took the set."

Alex Ghilea becomes the seventh Sooners in program history to earn All-America honors in singles. .

In the second, Ghilea broke Scott in the first game of the set, but then gave up three straight games to trail 3-1. The Sooner captain again worked from behind to close out the second 6-4 and take the win.

"What I tried to do was just keep my emotions in place," Ghilea said. "That was the hardest thing to do because I knew what was at stake and I really wanted to be an All-American.”

Ghilea becomes the program's seventh student-athlete to earn All-America status in singles and brings home Oklahoma's 10^th singles All-America honor overall.

“I'm really proud that Alex was able to win today and become an All-American,” Crowell said. “That's a great honor that he'll have the rest of his life.”

“I am obviously very happy,” Ghilea said. “Not too many tennis players have been All-Americans so I am happy and privileged to be one of them.”

No. 47 Ghilea will take on the nation's fifth-ranked player, Petros Chrysochos of Wake Forest, in the round of 16 on Friday at 11:30 a.m. CT.

“That will take some pressure off my shoulders for tomorrow,” Ghilea said. “I play Petros and he's a top-five player so I'm just going to go out there and enjoy it and do my best.”

The Sooners also picked up a win in doubles action on Thursday. Senior Andrew Harris and junior Spencer Papa paired to take down the nation's 23^rd-ranked tandem of Sean Donohue and Parker Wynn from Louisville. OU's pair, ranked No. 15, controlled their match from the start, winning 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the round of 16 in the 32-team draw.

“They came out serving very well and didn't lose their serve all day which is a good thing,” Crowell said. “Their opponents came out very aggressive and we had to make sure we could get a couple breaks and we did that. We're really looking forward to a good match tomorrow against a tough opponent from Arkansas.”

OU's top doubles pair will take on No. 6 Mike Redlicki and Jose Salazar of Arkansas Friday in the round of 16 at 1:30 p.m. CT. The winner of that match will automatically earn All-America status.