Tuesday, October 30
Birmingham, Ala.
All Day
Mississippi State
vs
USTA Futures
After an incredible four-match run to qualify for the main draw, Strahinja Rakic picked up a straight-set win in the first round of the Birmingham Futures on Tuesday.
Photo by: Blake Williams/MSU Athletics
State’s Rakic Wins Opener In Birmingham Futures Main Draw
October 30, 2018 | Men's Tennis
by Caleb Garner, Graduate Assistant/Communications
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On Tuesday, Mississippi State's Strahinja Rakic continued his strong play at the USTA Birmingham Futures tournament.
The 2018 All-American earned a stellar straight-set victory against Lucas Renard from Sweden (ATP 1105) to advance to the Round of 16, taking a 6-2, 7-6(4) victory. Rakic took advantage of a dozen double-faults by the Renard, while also playing a solid service game to seal the win.
After taking the first set 6-2, the Swede Renard battled back to take a quick 4-0 lead in the second set. Rakic held to get on the board, but Renard held serve right back to go up 5-1. That is where Rakic's rally began.
The senior Rakic fought off multiple set points to take the next four games and even up the score at 5-all. Rakic then took a 6-5 lead by holding serve. Renard did not back down, holding the next game to force a set tiebreaker.
In the breaker, Renard got off to a fast start, taking a 4-1 lead. Rakic responded with the same intensity that allowed him to win four straight matches in the qualifying draw. After Renard double-faulted to make it 4-2, Rakic continued to claw back, winning the next five points to take the tiebreak, set and match.
In the Round of 16, Rakic will face top-seeded Fabrizio Ornago (ATP 356) on Thursday. The Italian advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Boris Arias of Bolivia on Tuesday.
Next Up For MSU …
A pair of Bulldogs – sophomore Stedman Strickland and rookie Gregor Ramskogler – will return to Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend for the Country Club of Birmingham (CCB) Collegiate Invitational.
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
MSU at the 2018 USTA Birmingham Futures
October 30, 2018 – Birmingham, Alabama (Highland Park Tennis Center)
Singles Main Draw
First Round –Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. Lucas Renard 6-2, 7-6(4)
Tournament seeding in brackets.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On Tuesday, Mississippi State's Strahinja Rakic continued his strong play at the USTA Birmingham Futures tournament.
The 2018 All-American earned a stellar straight-set victory against Lucas Renard from Sweden (ATP 1105) to advance to the Round of 16, taking a 6-2, 7-6(4) victory. Rakic took advantage of a dozen double-faults by the Renard, while also playing a solid service game to seal the win.
After taking the first set 6-2, the Swede Renard battled back to take a quick 4-0 lead in the second set. Rakic held to get on the board, but Renard held serve right back to go up 5-1. That is where Rakic's rally began.
The senior Rakic fought off multiple set points to take the next four games and even up the score at 5-all. Rakic then took a 6-5 lead by holding serve. Renard did not back down, holding the next game to force a set tiebreaker.
In the breaker, Renard got off to a fast start, taking a 4-1 lead. Rakic responded with the same intensity that allowed him to win four straight matches in the qualifying draw. After Renard double-faulted to make it 4-2, Rakic continued to claw back, winning the next five points to take the tiebreak, set and match.
In the Round of 16, Rakic will face top-seeded Fabrizio Ornago (ATP 356) on Thursday. The Italian advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Boris Arias of Bolivia on Tuesday.
Next Up For MSU …
A pair of Bulldogs – sophomore Stedman Strickland and rookie Gregor Ramskogler – will return to Birmingham, Alabama, this weekend for the Country Club of Birmingham (CCB) Collegiate Invitational.
For more information on the Mississippi State men's tennis program, follow "HailStateMT" on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
MSU at the 2018 USTA Birmingham Futures
October 30, 2018 – Birmingham, Alabama (Highland Park Tennis Center)
Singles Main Draw
First Round –Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. Lucas Renard 6-2, 7-6(4)
Tournament seeding in brackets.
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