Men's Tennis Has Strong Showing at ITA All-America Championships

Saturday, October 2

Tulsa, Okla.

All Day

Southern Miss

ITA All-American

Men's Tennis Has Strong Showing at ITA All-America Championships

10/3/2021 7:07:00 PM | Men's Tennis

TULSA, Okla. - Dhruv Sunish and Olimjon Nabiev each got off to hot starts at the ITA All-America Championships for Southern Miss in Tulsa, Okla. It was the first time the Golden Eagles qualified for the event since Zubin Engineer took over the program in 2013.

The Golden Eagles notched individual wins against two Power 5 opponents in Texas and Oklahoma State. Both Sunish and Alexander Gima swept those opponents.

Sunish and Nabiev advanced out of the Round of 256 before each losing in the Round of 128. Christopher Cahour, Antoine Audrain, and Gima fell in their opening matches in the Prequalifying Main Draw and got placed in the Prequalifying Consolation Draw on Sunday.

Saturday
The Golden Eagles had timely wins from Nabiev and Sunish to advance out of the Round of 256 as they each handled their opponents in straight sets. Sunish knocked off Sammr Raina of Oklahoma State, 6-1, 6-2. Sunish fell in the Round of 128 to Robert Cash of Ohio State via a 6-2, 6-1 score. Nabiev handled Pol Batifoll of Illinois State in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. Nabiev also fell in the Round of 128, losing 6-4, 3-6, [10-7] to Nevin Arimilli of Texas. Gima fell in straight sets to Princeton's Damian Rodriguez, 6-4, 6-2. Luke Casper of Texas A&M was able to get past Cahour by a 6-3, 6-1 decision in the Round of 256. Audrain also fell, losing 4-6, 6-1, [10-5] to Zian Heaven of Liberty.

Gima, Cahour, and Audrain all slid into the Prequalifying Consolation Draw that was set to take place day two.

Sunday
Gima got off to a quick start on Sunday, winning in straight sets against Leighton Allen of Oklahoma State to survive and advance in the consolation draw. Both Audrain and Cahour dropped their consolation draw matches. Cahour dropped his in three sets, losing 6-7(3), 6-0, 6-4 to Kaya Gore of Fairfield.

Quotable
Head Coach Zubin Engineer...
"I am proud of how we fought this weekend," Engineer said. "This is arguably the biggest tournament of the year and we were able to compete with some of the best programs in the country."

Sophomore Olimjon Nabiev...
"It was great to play at the ITA All-American Championships for the first time. I am proud that I am representing USM and to be a Golden Eagle. We did great work as always and demonstrated high-level performances. We are going to practice even more and play as best as we can to bring Southern Miss to the top ranking."

Junior Alexander Gima
"This was the first time playing in the ITA All-America Championships and it was an amazing experience. I am proud to represent Southern Miss and the team as well. We played good matches against good players from top schools. It was a great experience for all of us. We will work harder and come back stronger next tournament."

Prequalifying Draw (Oct. 2)
Damian Rodriguez (Princeton) def. Alexander Gima (Southern Miss), 6-4, 6-2
Dhruv Sunish (Southern Miss) def. Sammr Raina (Oklahoma State), 6-1, 6-2
Robert Cash (Ohio State) def. Dhruv Sunish (Southern Miss), 6-2, 6-1
Olimjon Nabiev (Southern Miss) def. Pol Botifoll Rius (Illinois State), 6-2, 6-4
Nevin Arimilli(Texas) def. Olimjon Nabiev (Southern Miss), 6-4, 3-6, [10-7]
Luke Casper (Texas A&M) def. Christopher Cahour (Southern Miss), 6-3, 6-1
Zian Heaven (Liberty) def. Antoine Audrain (Southern Miss), 4-6, 6-1, [10-5]

Prequalifying Consolation Draw (Oct. 3)
Alexander Gima (Southern Miss) def. Leighton Allen (Oklahoma State), 6-4, 6-4
Deji Thomas-Smith (Liberty) def. Antoine Audrain (Southern Miss), 7-6(2) 6-2
Kaya Gore (Fairfield) def. Christopher Cahour (Southern Miss), 6-7(3), 6-0, 6-4