CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini return to action this week with the ITA Midwest Regional in Chicago, hosted by DePaul at the XS Tennis Village from Oct. 16-20. Four Illinois student-athletes will represent the Orange and Blue in the Windy City in both singles and doubles action.
Sasha Colleu will begin his tournament in the singles qualifying bracket on Thursday, while Adam Jilly, Hayden Jones, and Jeremy Zhang are set for their first singles matches in the main draw on Friday. Colleu will team up with Jilly, while Jones will partner with Zhang in the doubles main draw.
The single-elimination tournament is the second of four events that will serve as pathways into the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, scheduled for Nov. 18-23 in Orlando, Florida. The two singles finalists and the doubles champions at the ITA Midwest Regional will all earn entry into the NCAA Championships next month.
Jones is set to make his collegiate debut in Chicago, while Colleu, Jilly, and Zhang return to action after taking part in the Hope College RSM Invite from Oct. 3-4 in Holland, Michigan. The trio posted eight total singles wins at the event, including 3-0 showings from Jilly and Zhang.
In doubles play, Colleu and Jilly seek their first victories as a doubles tandem, while the Australian duo of Jones and Zhang will compete together in doubles for the first time since playing together on the junior circuit in Australia.
Illinois will be joined at the ITA Midwest Regional by student-athletes from Chicago State, Cleveland State, DePaul, Illinois State, Marquette, Michigan, Michigan State, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Toledo, UIC, Western Michigan, Wisconsin, and Youngstown State.
Two singles qualifying rounds are set for Thursday before shifting into the main draw in both singles and doubles play starting on Friday. The singles and doubles main draw finals will take place on Monday.
The event is free and open to the public. Complimentary parking is also available.
Opening Round Matches
Singles Qualifying - First Round (Thursday)
Sasha Colleu (Illinois) vs. Iker Dellien (Northern Illinois)
Singles Main Draw - First Round (Friday)
[9] Hayden Jones (Illinois) vs. Qualifier
[9] Adam Jilly (Illinois) vs. Kyran Magimay (Notre Dame)
Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) vs. Qualifier
Doubles Main Draw - First Round (Friday)
Hayden Jones/Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) vs. Youssef Mokhles/Mihailo Savic (UIC)
Adam Jilly/Sasha Colleu (Illinois) vs. Charlie Snow/Cole Cozens (Toledo)
