Tech has strong first day at Wake Forest Invitational

Hokies claim seven singles wins and a win in doubles

November 11, 2016

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Virginia Tech men’s tennis team got off to a strong start on Friday during the opening day of the Wake Forest Invitational in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Freddy Mesmer picked up a pair of wins to move into the semifinals of the B1 draw. He opened with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Davidson’s Artem Khrapko. In the next round, Mesmer battled Gabriel Niculescu of Troy. After dropping the first set 6-2, Mesmer rallied to win the second 6-2. The third set saw the two tied at 6-6, but Mesmer dominated in the tiebreak to secure it 7-1.

Henrik Korsgaard also advanced to the semifinals, winning two matches in the B2 draw. Korsgaard knocked off Indiana’s Zac Brodney 6-3, 6-2 to open singles play. In the second round, he defeated Troy’s Hassan Ndayishimye 6-1, 6-3.

Also competing in the B2 draw, Jason Kros moved into the other half of the semifinal round with a pair of wins. Kros secured the 6-4, 6-2 victory over Oriol Puig of Charlotte before downing Troy’s Amer Bedwan 6-2, 6-2.

George Cartledge had an opening round win in the A1 draw, defeating Liberty’s Chase Burton. Cartledge fell to Troy’s Mustapha Belcora 6-1, 6-1 in the second round.

In doubles action, Cartledge and Mesmer paired up in the A3 draw. The Tech duo secured a hard-fought win, defeating Radford’s Robin Calais and Sam Taylor in a tiebreak 7-6(3).

The Hokies will be back on the court on Saturday for the semifinals of singles and doubles.

Singles
Freddy Mesmer (VT) def. Artem Khrapko (Davidson) 6-3, 6-2
Mesmer (VT) def. Gabriel Niculescu (Troy) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(1)

Henrik Korsgaard (VT) def. Zac Brodney (Indiana) 6-3, 6-2
Korsgaard (VT) def. Hassan Ndayishimye (Troy) 6-1, 6-3

Jason Kros (VT) def. Oriol Puig (Charlotte) 6-4, 6-2
Kros (VT) def. Amer Bedwan (Troy) 6-2, 6-2

George Cartledge (VT) def. Chase Burton (Liberty) 6-2, 6-0
Mustapha Belcora (Troy) def. Cartledge (VT) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
Cartledge/Mesmer (VT) def. Robin Calais/Sam Taylor (Radford) 7-6(3)

Stefan Lugonjic/Brodney (IU) def. Korsgaard/Kros (VT) 7-5

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