Strode Notches Win at Polo All-American Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas sophomore Blake Strode, a member of the tennis team, won his first match at the Polo All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla. on Monday.

The Polo All-American Tennis Championships include five days of qualifying events that precede the October 5-8 main draw. A 128-player pre-qualifying tournament takes place Sept. 30-Oct. 1. This feeds into 128-player and 64-doubles team qualifying tournaments Oct. 2-5, which then feeds into the 64-player, 32-doubles team main draws.

Strode, making his fall debut, defeated Billy Mertz of Alabama, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the opening of round of the singles qualifying draw.

The win advances Strode to Tuesday’s second round of play. He will face Federico Murgier of SMU at 8 a.m.

Visit www.itatennis.com for complete results of the Polo All-American Championships.