Tulane University
Alabama Invitational
Men's Tennis Rolls On First Day In Alabama
Nov 6, 2010 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 6, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Tulane men's tennis team enjoyed a lot of success on the opening day of the Crimson Tide Fall Invitational on Friday with Idan Mark reaching the semifinals of his flight and the doubles team of Adam Bernstein and Rodrigo Rappaccioli coming from behind to upset Tennessee's pair of Mateo Fago and Bryan Swartz.
"We had some great highlights from today's results," Tulane head coach Mark Booras said. "I was really happy with Idan today. He has continued to pick up his level each tournament this semester and he is starting to come into form a bit more. His first round was a gutsy performance resulting in a victory over the 52nd ranked player in the nation from a top 25 Virginia Tech team."
Mark got past Tech's Luka Somen, the 52nd ranked player in the nation, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2, in the opening round of the Bear Bryant Draw. The Green Wave sophomore then defeated UAB's David Zimmerman, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinal round to reach the semifinals.
Bernstein and Rappaccioli upset Fago and Swartz, 9-7, in the opening round of the Crimson Draw.
"What can I say about Adam and Rodrigo? Wow!" Booras said. "Anytime you go up against players from an SEC Championship team with as much experience as Tennessee that is No. 2 in the nation you know you're going to have to bring your best to the table to have a shot. They really showed heart today and were resilient coming from 7-1 down to win 8 games in a row to claim a 9-7 victory against some very seasoned Tennessee players. I am very proud of them for never giving up, even when they were two points away from defeat. Today I think they learned, and taught the rest of the guys, a little bit more about what it means to believe."
Fellow double duo of Coby Kramer-Golinkoff and Shaye Wali advanced in doubles of the White Draw after the pair of Felipe and Jelffrey Faraias from Stillman College had to withdraw.
In other singles action, freshman Holger Norregaard won his opening round match, 6-3, 6-3, over Notre Dame's Sean Tan, but fell to Middle Tennessee State's Shaun Waters, 7-6, 6-3, in the quarterfinal round of the Musso Draw.
Fellow freshman Takuma Ohashi also advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over West Alabama's Juan Felipe Tellez.
Kramer-Golinkoff defeated UAB's Nick Ianuzzi, 6-1, 6-1, in the opening round of the Shealy Draw before falling to Virginia Tech's Jon Pine in the quarterfinal round.
Action in Tuscaloosa continues Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. CDT.
Players Mentioned
