Two University of Kentucky men’s tennis singles competitors and one doubles tandem remain standing after a tough openinground at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships in Norcross, Ga., on Thursday, Jan. 18.

Freshman Rahim Esmail knocked out his first collegiate opponent in grand style as he defeated Mississippi’s Conor Casey instraight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Junior Reven Stephens also advanced to Friday’s second round after opponent Brad Berry from Arkansasdefaulted the first round matchup.

In doubles action, juniors Johan Grunditz and Gustav Pousette sneaked by Mississippi State’s Luiz Carvalho and Max Fomine,8-6, to advance to Friday’s second round.

Also seeing opening round action was senior Edo Bawono, who, after a stellar 13-2 fall campaign, fell to seeded-player TiagoRuffoni of Auburn, 6-3, 6-3. Grunditz didn’t fare as well in singles as he became the victim of LSU’s Daniel Kiernan in a hard foughtbattle, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4). Pousette fell to Tennessee’s Adam Carey 7-5, 6-4, while freshman Karim Benmansour was overpowered on thecourt by Patrick Chucri of Ole Miss, dropping his first collegiate match, 6-2, 6-3.

Action continues tomorrow with Stephens facing Georgia’s Nicolas Boeker and Esmail taking on UGA’s Brandon Wagner, aseeded player in the tournament. Pousette and Grunditz will face off with the second-seeded duo of Georges Matijasevic and TiagoRuffoni from Auburn.