CARY, September 11, 2017
Skander Mansouri, Ryan Haviland, Julian Zlobansky and Aleksander Vukic have all qualified for the main draw of the $50,000 Atlantic Tire Championships held on hard courts at Cary Tennis Park.
All but Vukic played matches on the first day of qualifying. In Mansouri’s last match on Sunday, the 22-year-old from Tunisia won 86% of his first serve points, facing only one break point to secure a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Mark Verryth of Australia. The encounter lasted one hour and 20 minutes.
Mansouri’s fellow Wake Forest teammate, Julian Zlobansky, defeated the qualifying No. 4 Luke Bambridge from Great Britain in a close three set match to advance to the main draw.
Monday’s first match on Stadium Court features the tournament’s No. 2 Tennys Sandgren in pursuit of his 15th USTA Pro Circuit Singles title. Sandgren faces Ante Pavic of Croatia. The evening’s feature doubles match will showcase local collegiate player Nick Stachowiak and his Duke teammate Sean Sculley against Facundo Mena and Joao Pedro Sorgi. Briton Alexander Ward will take on No. 7 Mackenzie McDonald from the United States in the featured singles match. McDonald made college history by capturing the 2016 NCAA singles and doubles titles.
Sunday September 10 – RESULTS
Qualifying Singles– Second Round
Q-Skander Mansouri, Tunisia, def. Q-Evan King (1), United States, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(1)
Q-Mark Verryth, Australia, def. Q-Dmitry Tursunov (5), Russia, 5-7, 1-1 Retired
Q-David O’Hare, Ireland, def. Q-Matthew Barton (2), Australia, 7-6(2), 6-2
Q-Ryan Haviland (8), United States, def. Q-Damon Gooch, South Africa, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Q-Aleksandar Vukic, Australia, def. Q-Zeke Clark, United States, 6-3,1-6, 6-4
Q-Hans Hach Verdugo, Mexico, def. Q-Felipe Martinez Sarrasague (7), Argentina, 7-6(4), 6-3
Q-Luke Bambridge, Great Britian, def. Q-Blaine Boyden, United States, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
Q-Julian Zlobinsky, United States, def. Q- Mikelis Libietis (6), Latvia, 6-4, 7-6(3)
Qualifying Singles-Third Round
Q-Julian Zlobinsky, United States, def. Q-Luke Bambridge (4), United States, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Q-Aleksandar Vukic (3), United States, def. Q-Hans Hach Verdugo, Mexico, 6-3, 6-2
Q-Ryan Haviland (8), United States, def. Q-David O’Hare, Ireland, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(4)
Q-Skander Mansouri, Tunisia, def. Q-Mark Verryth, Australia, 7-6(5), 6-4
