CHICAGO – Illinois concluded its time at the ITA Midwest Regional on Sunday, with the Fighting Illini collecting 11 wins over the course of the event.
Adam Jilly advanced to the quarterfinals in the singles main draw, including a ranked victory, while Sasha Colleu and Jeremy Zhang also recorded singles wins during the week.
Colleu opened the weekend with back-to-back straight-set victories in the singles qualifying draw. Defeating Northern Illinois' Iker Dellien, 6-2, 6-2, on Thursday morning, Colleu earned a spot in the main draw via a 6-0, 6-4 win on Thursday afternoon against No. 5-seeded Eldin Nokic of UIC.
On Friday, the Illini started the day with two doubles triumphs in the opening round of doubles action. Zhang and Hayden Jones took care of business with an 8-5 decision over UIC's Youssef Mokhles/Mihailo Savic, while Colleu and Jilly followed it up with an 8-4 win against Toledo's Charlie Snow/Cole Cozens.
Jones and Zhang were unable to continue their winning ways, following in the second round, though Colleu and Jilly prevailed in their match with an 8-6 victory over Notre Dame's No. 9-seeded Perry Gregg/Kyran Magimay.
Shifting into singles play, Illinois recorded three wins in the first round of the singles main draw. Zhang cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over DePaul's Andy Hadziabdic, while Jilly needed three sets to take down Notre Dame's Kyran Magimay, 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-3. Colleu completed his comeback with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory versus Ethan Schiffman of Northwestern.
Both Colleu and Zhang fell to nationally ranked opponents in the second round on Saturday, while Jilly continued his strong week with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Wisconsin's Tomas Zlatohlavek. In the third round a few hours later, Jilly picked up a ranked victory over No. 51 Bryce Nakashima in three sets, 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-2, to secure a spot in Sunday's quarterfinals.
Jilly ultimately fell in three sets to No. 67-ranked Jack Anthrop of Ohio State in the quarterfinals.
RESULTS
Singles Qualifying
First Round (Thursday)
Sasha Colleu (Illinois) def. Iker Dellien (Northern Illinois), 6-2, 6-2
Second Round (Thursday)
Sasha Colleu (Illinois) def. [5] Eldin Nokic (UIC), 6-0, 6-4
Singles Main Draw
First Round (Friday)
Christian Capacci (Illinois State) def. [9] Hayden Jones (Illinois), 7-5, 6-2
[9] Adam Jilly (Illinois) def. Kyran Magimay (Notre Dame), 3-6, 6-7(8), 6-3
Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Andy Hadziabdic (DePaul), 6-3, 6-1
Sasha Colleu (Illinois) def. Ethan Schiffman (Northwestern), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Second Round (Saturday)
[1] #10 Sebastian Dominko (Notre Dame) def. Sasha Colleu (Illinois), 6-3, 6-1
Adam Jilly (Illinois) def. Tomas Zlatohlavek (Wisconsin), 7-5, 6-4
[6] #61 Michael Minasyan (Wisconsin) def. Jeremy Zhang, 7-5, 6-0
Third Round (Saturday)
Adam Jilly (Illinois) def. [4] #51 Bryce Nakashima (Ohio State), 7-6(7), 5-7, 6-2
Quarterfinals (Sunday)
[7] #67 Jack Anthrop (Ohio State) def. Adam Jilly (Illinois), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles Main Draw
First Round (Friday)
Hayden Jones/Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Youssef Mokhles/Mihailo Savic (UIC), 8-5
Adam Jilly/Sasha Colleu (Illinois) def. Charlie Snow/Cole Cozens (Toledo), 8-4
Second Round (Friday)
Lincoln Battle/Carl Gedlitschka (Cleveland State) def. Hayden Jones/Jeremy Zhang (Illinois), 8-7(5)
Adam Jilly/Sasha Colleu (Illinois) def. [9] Perry Gregg/Kyran Magimay (Notre Dame), 8-6
Third Round (Saturday)
[2] #15 Aidan Kim/Bryce Nakashima (Ohio State) def. Adam Jilly/Sasha Colleu (Illinois), 8-5
Singles Consolation
Saturday
Brandon Carpico (Ohio State) def. [9] Hayden Jones (Illinois), 7-6(4), 6-2
Sunday
Ferdinand Kloesters (Wisconsin) def. Sasha Colleu (Illinois), 6-3, 6-1
Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Tomas Zlatohlavek (Wisconsin), 6-3, 6-3
