Razorbacks Open Spring Season At Home
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark – With two players ranked in the top 20 and a No. 19 team ranking in the latest Oracle/ITA National Rankings, the Arkansas men’s tennis team opens its 2017 season at home against Tulsa on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Dills Indoor Tennis Center. Admission is free.
Head coach Andy Jackson welcomes back eight returners from last year’s team that finished 20-9 and a program-best 7-5 in Southeastern Conference play. That team reached the 20-win mark for the third time in program history and the first time since 1986. They also earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006, advancing to the Round of 32 with a win over Wichita State in the Round of 64.
Senior Mike Redlicki, the No. 3 singles player in the nation, begins the spring as the highest-ranked player in the Southeastern Conference. He won the singles title at the ITA/USTA National Indoor Championships this past fall, as part of his 17-2 record in singles play, including an 11-1 record against ranked opponents.
Fellow senior Jose Salazar joins Redlicki in the top 20, rising from No. 45 to No. 19 in the singles rankings. He went 11-3 in singles play, including 4-3 against ranked opponents, and won the singles title at the ITA Central Regional Championship this past fall. They were two of five Razorbacks, along with Juan Marino, Adam Sanjurjo and Johan den Toom, to defeat ranked opponents this past fall.
Tulsa, which is receiving votes in the latest national rankings, opened the 2017 season with a 4-3 win over Wichita State on Thursday in Tulsa. Or Ram-Harel is ranked No. 46 in singles, while the doubles team of Francois and Okkie Kellerman is ranked No. 36. The Hurricane went 17-14 in 2016 on their way to their 11th straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
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