Barun, Smillie Advance to Doubles Quarterfinals at ITA Central Region Championships

TULSA, Okla. – The Arkansas men’s tennis team continued play today at the ITA Central Region Championships as Božo Barun and Connor Smillie advanced to the quarterfinals of the doubles main draw.

The Hogs opened the third day of competition with four players taking the court in the singles Round of 32 while Barun competed in the singles consolation draw. Benni Emesz coasted to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Christian Winstead (Drake) in his first match of the day. In the Round of 16, Emesz faced Leandro Zgraggen (North Dakota), dropping the match in straight sets.

Jakub Vrba impressed in his Round of 32 match as he earned the first ranked victory of his collegiate career after a 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3 win against No. 41 Isaac Becroft (Oklahoma State). Vrba then fell in his next match to Luis Felipe Miguel (Tulsa) in straight sets.

Brendan Boland dropped his Round of 32 match to No. 89 Luis Alvarez (Oklahoma) in straight sets before responding with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Henry Bilicic (Nebraska). Smillie’s run came to an end after a narrow loss to Alessio Basile (Oklahoma State), 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4).

Barun picked up a win in the consolation draw after a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory against Sam Reeve (Memphis). Barun advances to face Joan Torres Espinosa (Nebraska) in the consolation Round of 16 tomorrow at 10 a.m.

In the doubles main draw, Barun and Smillie claimed their spot in the quarterfinals after defeating fellow Razorbacks Emesz and Vrba, 8-5. Barun and Smillie are set to take on Lacides/Nhavene (Oklahoma) tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Day Three Results
Singles Main Draw
R32: Emesz (Arkansas) def. Winstead (Drake), 6-2, 6-0
R32: Vrba (Arkansas) def. No. 41 Becroft (Oklahoma State), 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3
R32: Basile (Oklahoma State) def. Smillie (Arkansas), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4)
R32: No. 89 Alvarez (Oklahoma) def. Boland (Arkansas), 6-2, 6-3
R16: Zgraggen (North Dakota) def. Emesz (Arkansas), 6-1, 6-4
R16: Miguel (Tulsa) def. Vrba (Arkansas), 7-5, 6-4

Singles Consolation Draw
C-R32: Barun (Arkansas) def. Reeve (Memphis), 7-6 (3), 6-2

Singles Extra Matches
EXT: Boland (Arkansas) def. Bilicic (Nebraska), 6-2, 6-4

Doubles Main Draw
R16: Barun/Smillie (Arkansas) def. Emesz/Vrba (Arkansas), 8-5