Jan. 15, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky juniors Eric Quigley and Alex Musialek each won a pair of matches against solid competition to advance to the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Coaches Indoor Championship in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday.
Quigley, who is ranked second in the country in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association preseason singles poll, started the day by defeating Campbell Johnson of Georgia in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in the second round. The No. 2-seeded Quigley then took on No.9-seed Jonas Lutjen of Ole Miss in the third round. The native of Pewee Valley, Ky., continued his strong play, taking down Lutjen in the straight sets 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive season.
“Again, Eric had a very solid performance in the round of 16,” head coach Dennis Emery said. “He continues to work really hard and get the job done. He will face a tough player tomorrow and it should be a good match to watch.”
The top-seeded Quigley will take on No. 8 seed Sadio Doumbia of Georgia in the quarterfinals Sunday. Doumbia is ranked No. 47 in the country in singles. The match is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Kentucky will have two players in the quarterfinals as Musialek posted several strong wins Saturday to advance to the final eight in the singles main draw. The native of France began the day with a hard-fought victory over Nassim Slilam of Florida 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 and then defeated Ignacio Taboada of Georgia 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.
“Alex played a very good match against a tough player from Florida,” Emery said. “It was good to see him hang in there and gut out a very tough third set, much tougher than the score indicated. After being so close to winning the second set and the match in a tiebreaker, he came back strong in the third and that showed good progress from him.
I was also proud of his performance against Toboada. It was a very workman-like performance and a very good solid win for Musialek.”
Musialek, the country’s No. 39 ranked player and the tournament’s No. 7 seed, will play the tournament’s No. 3 seed in Javier Garrapiz of Georgia on Sunday at 11: 30 a.m. ET. Garrapiz is ranked No. 13 in the country.
Sophomore Anthony Rossi also grabbed a win Saturday, defeating the sixth-seeded Matteo Fago of Tennessee. Rossi fell behind in the first set, losing a tiebreaker but bounced back in the second set for a 6-4 victory and then finished off the country’s 38th-ranked player in the third set to claim the 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 victory. Rossi then fell in the round of 16 to ninth-seeded Wil Spencer of Georgia 7-5, 6-2.
“Rossi had a good win over Fago,” Emery said. “He is really one of the best players in the conference at his position and has been a key part of Tennessee’s success for the past few years, especially last year when they went to the NCAA finals. He is a tough out and for Rossi to be able to hang in there and win it shows his development.”
UK senior Brad Cox and freshman Grant Roberts posted good performances in losses in the second round Saturday. Cox fell to the tournament’s No. 2 seed Alexandre Lacroix of Florida 6-2, 6-4, while Roberts lost to Doumbia 7-5, 7-6. Roberts did advance to the third round of the consolation bracket, defeating Adrian Forberg of Ole Miss 7-6, 6-3 and winning by default against Johan Backstrom of Ole Miss, who withdrew.
“I thought that Brad played a good match today,” Emery said. “He was down a set in the break and broke back to get back in the match but ended up falling in a close match. I was also proud of Grant’s performance. For a freshman to be able to battle like he did today against a very tough player was a great sign for him and his development. We look for him to do well this spring.”
Roberts and fellow freshman Ryuji Hirooka fell in the quarterfinals of the doubles event 8-2 to Doumbia/Taboada of Georgia.
Play continues tomorrow with the singles quarterfinals and semifinals along with more consolation action.
Sunday:
Consolation Doubles: Round 2
Main Draw Doubles: Semifinals
Main Draw Singles: Quarterfinals
Main Draw Singles: Semifinals
Monday:
Final Singles: 10 a.m.
Final Doubles to follow, not before 11:30 a.m.
