Nov. 3, 2017
LAS VEGAS-- The San Diego State men's tennis team enjoyed a successful Friday at the Larry Easley Memorial Championships, capturing five of six singles matches to go with a pair of doubles victories in the tournament's opening rounds held on the campus of UNLV.
In doubles action, junior Sander Gjoels-Andersen and sophomore Arnaud Restifo joined forces for the first time this season, posting an impressive 8-3 triumph over the Northern Arizona pairing of Chris Steele and Felix Schumann, while the duo of sophomore Joel Popov and freshman Ignacio Martinez edged the UCLA combo of Austin Rapp and Max Cressy by an 8-6 count.
Martinez and Popov also emerged victorious the first round of singles play at Fertita Tennis Complex. Martinez encountered minimal resistance in a 6-0, 6-1 conquest of UNLV's Mario Aguayo, while Popov was extended to three sets in his battle with Steele before prevailing, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.
In addition, Gjoels-Andersen and Restifo dispatched their respective opponents after receiving first-round byes. Gjoels-Andersen outlasted UCLA's Connor Rapp, 7-5, 7-5, while Restifo erased an early deficit in his showdown with Schumann before turning on the afterburners in a three-set decision, 6-7, 6-1, 6-3.
Elsewhere, Martinez advanced to the quarterfinals as well after a walkover of UNLV's Ruben Albert; however, Popov fell short to Austin Rapp in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.
The Larry Easley Memorial Championships continue on Saturday with two rounds of doubles and one round of singles competition, starting at 9 a.m. PT.
Larry Easley Championships
Las Vegas, Nev.
Day One -- SDSU Results Only
Doubles -- First Round
Ignacio Martinez/Joel Popov (SDSU) def. Austin Rapp/Max Cressy (UCLA), 8-6
Sander Gjoels-Andersen/Arnaud Restifo (SDSU) def. Chris Steele/Felix Schumann (NAU), 8-3
Singles -- First Round
Joel Popov (SDSU) def. Chris Steele (NAU), 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
Ignacio Martinez (SDSU) def. Mario Aguayo (UNLV), 6-0, 6-1
Singles -- Second Round
Ignacio Martinez (SDSU) def. Ruben Alberts (UNLV) by walkover
Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Connor Rapp (UCLA), 7-5, 7-5
Arnaud Restifo (SDSU) def. Felix Schumann (NAU), 6-7, 6-1, 6-3
Austin Rapp (UCLA) def. Joel Popov (SDSU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-0