CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland State men's tennis team had a strong first day at the Viking Invitational Friday, including a career milestone from senior Mirko Radosevic.
"Everyone did what they were supposed to do today, we had strong play in both singles and doubles," head coach Brian Etzkin said. "We were able to pick up singles wins in six of our nine matches today, and we put ourselves in good position moving forward this weekend. Overall, we had a good first day, and we are looking forward to continuing that tomorrow at the Viking Invitational."
With his first round victory over Pol Virgile of Youngstown State, Mirko Radosevic became the 12th Viking all-time to notch 50 career singles wins, and the first since the 2014-15 season. Radosevic leads all current Vikings with his 50 career victories.
Cleveland State also got singles wins from all four of the seeded players Friday, with Nico Mostardi, Luke Phillips, Matthew Terry, and Benjamin Slade all picking up second round wins. This quartet moved onto the round of 16 in the main singles draw, which will be played tomorrow afternoon.
Jack Santilli also picked up a win on the day, earning a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Niagara in his first round match, before falling in the second round.
In doubles action, the Vikings had two teams advance to the quarterfinals, with Luke Phillips and William Malm going 2-0 on the day and Nico Mostardi and Matthew Terry going 1-0 on the first day of the tournament.
Phillips and Malm picked up a 7-6 (3) victory against an unattached duo in their first round contest, and then posted a 6-4 victory over the top-seeded duo from Northern Illinois in the second round.
Mostardi and Terry had a bye during the first round of play, picking up a 6-3 win over Binghamton in the second round.
Action at the Viking Invitational continues tomorrow with two rounds of doubles followed by two rounds of singles beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion.
Doubles First Round
Phillips/Malm (CSU) def. Fojtasek/Chen (UNA), 7-6 (3)
Doubles Second Round
Phillips/Malm (CSU) def. Marbach/Lundkvist (NIU), 6-4
Mostardi/Terry (CSU) def. Valenti/Druger (BING), 6-3
Lourenco/Bouchet (BING) def. Radosevic/Slade (CSU), 6-4
Singles First Round
Mirko Radosevic (CSU) def. Pol Virgile (YSU), 6-3, 3-6, 10-7
Taylan Ozdemir (NIA) def. William Malm (CSU), 6-3, 3-2, ret.
Jack Santilli (CSU) def. Josh Wilson (NIA), 6-2, 6-2
Singles Second Round
Nico Mostardi (CSU) def. Inigo Saez (BING), 6-0, 6-1
Luke Phillips (CSU) def. Luke Purser (YSU), 6-3, 6-2
George Lundkvist (NIU) def. Mirko Radosevic (CSU), 6-4, 6-2
Benjamin Slade (CSU) def. James Fojtasek (UNA), 6-3, 6-1
Matthew Terry (CSU) def. Earl Hsieh (UNA), 6-2, 7-6 (2)
Daynylo Veremeichuk (YSU) def. Jack Santilli (CSU), 6-2, 6-2
