PROVO -- The BYU men’s tennis team competed with considerable success during the first day of the Utah Fall Tennis Classic held at the BYU outdoor courts. The Cougars performed well against local players, former college athletes and opponents they will play later in the season.
Eight Cougars will play in singles competition in the Round of 16 tomorrow, including head coach Brad Pearce and last year’s lone senior Jonathan Sanchez. Also included in the final 16 are returning players Cassidy Mears, Bradley Ferguson, Evan Urbina and Thomas Shubert and newcomers Travis Fillmore and Georgy Batrakov.
“It was a beautiful day and we had great community support,” Pearce said. “It was a great day to be a tennis player.”
The team fared equally well in doubles, earning four of the eight spots in the quarterfinals. Pearce teamed up with Sanchez to secure a place along with Urbina and freshman Roman Warias. Returning sophomores Shubert and A.J. Young also join Mears and Albert Nersesyan to round out the Cougars jockeying for a position in the semifinals.
Matches will start at 9 a.m. on Friday and 9:45 a.m. on Saturday. All matches are free and open to the public. The BYU outdoor tennis courts are located south of the Smith Fieldhouse and can be accessed by the entrance on the east side. BYU Y lots are available for parking after 4 p.m. Friday and all lots are open Saturday.
The United States Tennis Association sanctions this tournament. Any participating college players are performing as individuals and do not represent their schools. Results will not impact Intercollegiate Tennis Association or NCAA rankings.