NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Athell Bennett and Mateo Julio advanced to the singles third round of ITA Ohio Valley Regionals on Friday, as the Purdue men's tennis team posted seven wins over eight total matches on day two.
Bennett, the No. 1 seed, made quick work of his second-round opponent Marko Ilic from Belmont with a 6-1, 6-2 victory. The senior will square off with Middle Tennessee State's Max Rauch on Saturday.
The Valley Stream, N.Y., native also reached the quarterfinals of the doubles draw with playing partner Julian Saborio. The duo benefitted from a walkover win to set up a match with Pavel Motl and Stijn Slump from Middle Tennessee State on Saturday.
Julio needed to rally from a set down to outduel Francisco Rocha from Middle Tennessee State, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The Argentine international will look for a bid to the round of 16 on Saturday against Miguel Este from East Tennessee State.
In the singles consolation draw, the Boilermakers tallied a quartet of victories. Tomasz Dudek downed Simon Bustamante of Chattanooga in straight sets, 7-6(5), 6-3. Maksymilian Raupuk topped Alex Jochim from IUPUI, 7-6(5), 7-5. Saborio took a walkover win against Wright State's Carlos Estrada-Sanchez. Sebastian Welch ousted Keaton Allwardt from Vanderbilt in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
Purdue Matches on Friday
No. 1 Athell Bennett def. Ilic (Belmont) – 6-1, 6-2
No. 7 Mateo Julio def. Rocha (MTSU) – 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
Athell Bennett/Julian Saborio def. Sergio Ramirez/Fabien Salle (Louisville) – W/O
Tomasz Dudek def. Simon Bustamante (Chattanooga) – 7-6(5), 6-3
Kovacevic (Ball State) def. Franz Luna – 6-3, 6-4
Maksymilian Raupuk def. Alex Jochim (IUPUI) – 7-6(4), 7-5
Julian Saborio def. Carlos Estrada-Sanchez (Wright State) – W/O
Sebastian Welch def. Allwardt (Vanderbilt) – 6-3, 6-4