TULSA, Okla./SAN DIEGO, Calif.- The Toreros concluded play in the ITA All-American Championships on Saturday after No. 30 Uros Petronijevic lost his quarterfinal match.
The USD senior, Petronijevic, started the day with a third consecutive victory over a ranked opponent by defeating Ohio State's No. 29 Chris Diaz 6-3, 6-4. He advanced to face California's No. 22 Andre Goransson. Goransson topped Petronijevic 6-4, 6-3 in a tightly contested match.
With his tremendous performance, Petronijevic, qualified for the ITA National Indoor Championships, which are held on November 12-15, in New York.
Head Coach Ryan Keckley continues to be impressed with his Petronijevic's play.
"I'm very proud of the effort displayed by Uros today," Keckley said. "He battled two established competitors and successfully secured a spot in New York this November. He needed to remain patient in his first match against a gritty Chris Diaz. His toughness was tested but Uki (Petronijevic) managed to pull through on a few key sudden death points. Goransson, from Cal, is an incredibly gifted athlete and out toughed us in the first set with seven of the first 10 games going to a sudden death point. It was an incredible week for USD tennis and I look forward to seeing what the fall brings for this team."
In San Diego, the Toreros continued play in the Aztec Invitational. In Flight 1 Romain Kalaydjian picked up two more wins and reached the Sunday's final.
Kalaydjian started the day with a hard fought 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over USC's Rob Bellamy. He continued with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Bellamy's teammate Connor Farren.
Assistant Coach Ty Schaub has been leading the team in the invite and is impressed with the Kalaydjian's level of play.
"Roma (Kalaydjian) was great today, playing some of the best tennis I have seen from him and picking up two wins over very strong players from USC."
Tomorrow the senior will play another USC competitor, Jake DeVine, in the Flight 1 final. In the morning, he and doubles partner Alexandros Araouzos will play a semi finals match against Denver's Yannik James and Jesse Rudder-Hook.
Today Kalaydjian and Araouzos defeated GCU's Alexander Roggenkamp and Felix Schueller 6-4. Also in doubles play, Pratt Keerasuntonpong and James Ponwith scored a 6-4 win over SDSU's Raul De La Torre and Sander Gjoles-Anderson. They will face Murakami and Cohen from Mesa, Ariz.
Keerasuntonpong defeated Murakami in single play today by a final score of
5-7, 6-3, 6-1. The freshman will face UCSD's Edvin Larsson in tomorrows Flight 3 consolation final.
"I'm really excited about the way the boys competed today," said Schaub. "We got off to a great start by playing with good energy and winning both doubles matches. I'm really looking forward to the finals."
2015 Saint Francis Health System ITA Men's All-American Championships
October 3-12, 2015
Tulsa, Okla.
Singles Competition
No. 30 Uros Petronijevic (USD) def. No. 29 Chris Diaz (OSU) 6-3, 6-4
No. 22 Andre Goransson (CAL) def. No. 30 Uros Petronijevic (USD) 6-4, 6-3
Aztec Invite
October 9-11, 2015
San Diego, Calif.
Singles Competition
Flight 1
Romain Kalaydjian (USD) def. Rob Bellamy (USC) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
Romain Kalaydjian (USD) def. Connor Farren (USC) 6-4, 6-1
Flight 3
Pratt Keerasuntonpong (USD def. Murakami (Mesa, AZ) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
Doubles Competition
Flight 1
Romain Kalaydjian/Alex Araouzos (USD) def. Alexander Roggenkamp/Felix Schueller (GCU) 6-4
Flight 2
James Ponwith/Pratt Keerasuntonpong (USD) def. Raul De La Torre/Sander Gjoles-Anderson (SDSU) 6-4
