Oct. 9, 2003
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State seniors Felix Hardt and Ryan Redondo advanced to the round of 16 at the first grand slam event of the season with an 8-6 victory over 22nd-ranked Johan Brunstrom and Henrik Soderberg of SMU at the Icy Hot/ITA Men's All-American Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Thursday.
Hardt and Redondo, ranked 12th nationally, overcame injuries to advance. Hardt is nursing a hip strain and was almost forced to withdraw from his singles match earlier in the day while Redondo will have surgery on his right elbow following the tournament.
"We are thankful that we are playing pro-set tennis instead of best of three-set tennis," head coach Gene Carswell said. "I am very proud of the way we played. We could have made a number of excuses but instead we were tuned in and focused. Ryan and Felix got it done on guts and determination."
Earlier in the day, Hardt lost in the singles bracket to 61st-ranked Stephen Mitchell of Alabama, 6-3, 6-4 in the round of 64.
Both the round of 16 and the quarterfinal doubles matches are scheduled for tomorrow. Hardt and Redondo will face sixth-ranked Hector Almada and Sergui Modoc of Fresno State in the round of 16.