Mississippi State
Indiana
Bulldogs Sweep Singles, Start Perfect on the Road to Open the Season
January 18, 2026 | Men's Tennis
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – No. 7 Mississippi State dropped the doubles point for the second straight match, but once again answered with authority, sweeping singles to earn a 6-1 win over Indiana on Sunday.
State fell behind early in doubles with Michal Novansky and Bryan Hernandez Cortes dropping their first doubles match of the year. Mario Martinez Serrano and Niccolo Baroni answered back with a tiebreak win over Michael Andre and Matteo Antonescu.
The doubles point came down to Court 1 where No. 2 Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez battled Indiana's Sam Landau and Jip van Assendelft. The match came down to the wire, but Jovanovic/Sanchez Martinez dropped the match 6(4)-7 in a tiebreak and Indiana clinched the doubles point.
No. 13 Petar Jovanovic answered back in singles, evening the score with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Jip van Assendelft on Court 2. Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes followed on Court 6, giving State its first lead with a 6-3, 6-2 victory against Ben Pomeranets.
No. 37 Mario Martinez Serrano extended the advantage on Court 4, by defeating Michael Andre, 6-2, 7-5.
Niccolo Baroni went on to clinch the match, as he edged Facundo Yunis in a first-set tiebreak and pulled away for a 7-6(6), 6-1 win.
Play continued after the clinch, with No. 54 Benito Sanchez Martinez rallying past No. 105 Sam Landau on the top court, 3-6, 7-5, 2-0, before Landau retired in the third set due to injury. No. 125 Raphael Vaksmann closed the day on Court 5 with a three-set comeback over Braeden Gelletich, 6(3)-7, 6-4, 6-1.
Mississippi State's singles sweep highlighted its depth and resilience, marking the second straight match the Bulldogs have dropped the doubles point and still emerged with the victory.
Records
No. 7 Mississippi State (4-0, 0-0 SEC)
Indiana (2-1, 0-0 B1G)
Match Notes
• Mississippi State swept singles for the first time this season.
• Head Coach Matt Roberts secured his 216th career win as head coach of the Bulldogs. He is now tied for second all-time and just five away from hold the record for most career wins all time.
• Benito Sanchez Martinez picked up his second ranked singles dual win in back to back matches.
• Freshman Raphael Vaksmann remains unbeaten in dual matches to start his collegiate career, winning three straight.
• Petar Jovanovic leads the team in singles wins (4) on the season.
Up Next
No. 7 Mississippi State will host the ITA Kickoff Weekend as well as their home opener Saturday against Santa Clara.
Match Results
Doubles
1. Sam Landau and Jip van Assendelft (IND) def. #2 Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) – 6(4)-7
2. Niccolo Baroni/Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU) def. Michael Andre and Matteo Antonescu (IND) – 7-6(3)
3. Braeden Gelletich and Facundo Yunis (IND) def. Bryan Hernandez Cortes/Michal Novansky (MSU) – 6-4
Indiana won the Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 3,2,1*
Singles
1. #54 Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. #105 Sam Landau (IND) – 3-6, 7-5, 2-0 [ret. inj]
2. #13 Petar Jovanovic (MSU) def. Jip van Assendelft (IND) – 6-3, 6-4
3. Niccolo Baroni (MSU) def. Facundo Yunis (IND) – 7-6(2), 6-1
4. #37 Mario Martinez Serrano (MSU) def. Michael Andre (IND) – 6-2, 7-5
5. #125 Raphael Vaksmann (MSU) def. Braeden Gelletich (IND) – 6(3)-7, 6-4, 6-1
6. Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes (MSU) def. Ben Pomeranets (IND) – 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 4, 3*, 1, 5
* Clincher
For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateMT" on X, Instagramand Facebook.
– HailState.com –
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
2,6,4,3,1,5
Players Mentioned
