Men’s Tennis: Elio Lago Gets Win Over No. 42 At Day One Of The John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic
David Collins, Athletics Communications Assistant
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LAFAYETTE – Junior Elio Lago got a big first round win over Louisiana State’s Shane Monroe, ranked No. 42 nationally, during the first day of the 2018 John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic to pace Louisiana Men’s Tennis at Cajun Courts.
A three-hour lightning delay forced the action to go later into the night than originally planned but it did not stop Lago from getting his first career win over a nationally ranked opponent when he took down Louisiana State’s Monroe in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6(7) in the first round of the main draw.
WEATHER CUTS IT SHORT: With the rain continuing on and off through the day, combined with the 3 plus hour lightning day, the day’s action had to be cut short with two main draw singles quarterfinals matches yet to be decided. The action will pick back up at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 with the main draw quarterfinal matches along with the second round of consolation matches all going at that time.
The main draw semifinals will then be played following the 9 a.m. matches and doubles will then be played through the day to line things up for Sunday’s finals matches.
LAGO OPENS THE DAY BIG: Lago was matched up with Monroe in the first round, with Monroe not only bringing the national ranking into the match, but he was seeded No. 1 for the tournament. Neither of those facts seemed to effect Lago as he came out strong, taking the first set easily, 6-2.
During the second set Monroe made things a bit more competitive, with the set evolving into a back and forth affair, but Lago fought Monroe off and came back to force a tiebreaker with a chance to win the match. In the breaker, Lago controlled the action pushing back every attack that Monroe sent his way, to come away with the big win, 6-2, 7-6(7).
After the long lightning delay, Lago retook the court to face off with South Florida’s Chase Ferguson in the main draw quarterfinals. The first set was a battle, with Lago going point-for-point with Ferguson. The set came down to a tiebreaker that Ferguson took, 7-2, to win the first set 7-6(2).
In the second set Ferguson would take the lead early and not give it back winning the match 7-6(2), 6-2. Lago’s loss means that he moves into the quarterfinals consolation bracket which will be played on Saturday.
REST OF THE CAJUNS: Junior Jamie Fraser faced off with Texas’ Rodrigo Banzer, ranked nationally at No. 61. Fraser dropped the match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0 to move into the consolation bracket.
In Fraser’s consolation match he faced off with South Florida’s Ivan Yatsuk. It was one of the longest matches in the day, with Fraser taking the first set, 6-1, before dropping the second set in a tiebreaker, 6-7(4). The third set was played in a super tiebreaker format with Yatsuk holding off Fraser by grabbing the final two points to win the third set 1-0(8) and the match 1-6, 7-6(4), 1-0(8).
Freshman Jan Galka, in his first collegiate match, took on Texas’ Leo Telles, who brought a national ranking of 62 into the match. Telles won the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to knock Galka into the consolation draw. Galka faced off with Oklahoma State’s Maxim Tybar in the consolation draw falling in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Louisiana senior Arthur Libaud faced off with nationally ranked No. 98 Eric Rutledge from Rice in the first round of the main draw. Libaud took the first set but could not hold his lead dropping the next two sets and the match, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Sophomore Dominik Koenig took Libaud’s spot in the consolation draw and he faced off with Mailk Bhatnager of Louisiana State. Koenig dropped the match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1 to finish up the night for Louisiana.
UP NEXT: The action will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 with the conclusion of the singles main draw quarterfinals matches. The second round of consolation matches will begin at that time as well.
The main draw semifinals will be played following the quarterfinals and doubles will begin following those matches.
John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic (Day One)
September 21, 2018 at Lafayette, La.
(Cajun Courts)
Singles Main Draw (First Round):
Elio Lago (LA) def. No. 42 Shane Monroe (Louisiana State) 6-2, 7-6(7)
No. 61 Rodrigo Banzer (UT) def. Jamie Fraser (LA) 6-2, 6-0
No. 62 Leo Telles (UT) def. Jan Galka (LA) 6-3, 6-4
No. 98 Eric Rutledge (Rice) def. Arthur Libaud (LA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Singles Main Draw (Quarterfinals):
Chase Ferguson (USF) def. Lago (LA) 7-6(2), 6-2
Singles Consolation Draw (First Round):
Maxim Tybar (OSU) def. Galka (LA) 6-2, 6-2
Malik Bhatnagar (Louisiana State) def. Dominik Koenig (LA) 6-1, 6-1
Ivan Yatsuk (USF) def. Fraser (LA) 1-6, 7-6(4), 1-0(8)
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