Four Razorbacks, Doubles Advance at ITA Central Region Championships

TULSA, Okla. – The Arkansas men’s tennis team completed the second day of the ITA Central Region Championships with four Hogs clinching their spot in the singles Round of 32 while both doubles pairs advanced to the Round of 16 main draw.

The Razorbacks opened the day with five players competing in the singles main draw with four advancing to the next round. Connor Smillie cruised to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Leo Linquet (Nebraska) in the Round of 64 while Jakub Vrba earned a straight-set win against Colson Wells (Nebraska). Smillie moves on to face Alessio Basile (Oklahoma State) and Vrba advances to take on No. 41 Isaac Becroft (Oklahoma State) tomorrow.

Brendan Boland picked up his second singles victory of the tournament after a 7-5, 6-3 win over Ethan Gaubert (Omaha). Boland will play No. 89 Luis Alvarez (Oklahoma) tomorrow in his Round of 32 match. Benni Emesz claimed a three-set victory in the opening round and will face Christian Winstead (Drake) tomorrow.

Božo Barun dropped his Round of 64 match, falling in straight sets to Bruno Nhavene (Oklahoma). Barun is set to take on Linquet in the consolation draw tomorrow at 10 a.m.

The Hogs closed the day with doubles play as the two Razorback pairings took the court in the Round of 32. The duo of Emesz and Vrba earned their spot in the next round with an 8-6 win against Kudernatsch/Sandoval Carvalho (Memphis). The tandem of Barun and Smillie advanced after an 8-5 victory over Bilicic/Johann (Nebraska) to set up a match between the two Arkansas pairs in the Round of 16.

Day Two Results
Singles Main Draw
R64: Smillie (Arkansas) def. Linquet (Nebraska), 6-4, 6-3
R64: Vrba (Arkansas) def. Wells (Nebraska), 6-3, 6-4
R64: Boland (Arkansas) def. Gaubert (Omaha), 7-5, 6-3
R64: Emesz (Arkansas) def. Worthington (Wichita State), 6-1, 1-6, 6-4
R64: Nhavene (Oklahoma) def. Barun (Arkansas), 6-3, 6-4

Doubles Main Draw
R32: Benni Emesz/Jakub Vrba (Arkansas) def. Kudernatsch/Sandoval Carvalho (Memphis), 8-6
R32: Božo Barun/Connor Smillie (Arkansas) def. Bilicic/Johann (Nebraska), 8-5