CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Junior Karlis Ozolins will be playing in the second qualifying round of the Neitzel Family Open, a $15,000 USTA Professional Tennis Circuit Event hosted at Atkins Tennis Center.
Ozolins is able to move on after defeating Jeremy Schifris, 4-6, 6-3, 10-4, in the first qualifying round this afternoon.Â
Five other Illini played in the first qualifying round, starting with alumnus Alex Brown, who lost 6-1, 6-4 to Christopher Bulus. Junior Mathis Debru followed Brown and was defeated by Damien Salvestre, 6-4, 6-3.
Freshman Jeremy Zhang played in his first pro tournament as a college student, falling 6-1, 6-3 to Radomir Tomic. Sophomore Tyler Bowers lost his match, 6-3, 6-2, to Gabriel Evans. Gabrielius Guzauskas finished the night for the Illini, falling 6-4, 6-4 to Evan Bynoe.Â
Tomorrow will not only be the second day of the qualifying round, but also the first day of the main draw for both doubles and singles.Â
Ozolins will face Angel Diaz Jalil, with sophomore Kenta Miyoshi and former Illini Zeke Clarke playing Taha Baadi and Charielle Cosnet, both playing not before 1 p.m. Hunter Heck will face Andrew Fenty, and Debru and Oliver Okonkwo will play Pranav Kumar and Pierce Brazil Rollins both not before 3:30 p.m. Lucas Horve and Guzauskas will be last on court one when they play William Grant and Axel Nefve.
