Two Razorbacks Advance To Saturday In Milwaukee

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Two Razorback men’s tennis players advanced past the first two rounds of the Milwaukee Tennis Classic singles bracket Friday.

Senior Jose Salazar defeated Luke Smrek of Marquette 6-2, 6-1 to improve to 3-0 this fall, after working his way out of the qualifiers bracket on Thursday.

Salazar advanced to the second round of the qualifier to face Michael Dube (Michigan State), after defeating Brad Luetschwager (IUPUI) 6-2, 6-1 in the first round. Against Dube, Salazar held his own again, defeating the Spartan 6-3, 6-2 to earn his spot in the main draw.

Along with Salazar, freshman Josh Howard-Tripp and juniors Oscar Mesquida and Matias Gonzalez competed in the main draw Friday.

Howard-Tripp knocked off Kareem Allaf (Iowa) 6-3, 6-2, before defeating Jackson Allen (Minnesota) 6-2, 6-4 to move to 3-2 this fall in singles play.

Mesquida faced Nebraska’s Linus Erhart in the first round, defeating the Cornhusker 6-3, 6-4. He then fell to Felix Corwin (Minnesota) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to move to 2-2 in singles play so far this fall.

Gonzalez fell in his first match to Stefan Milicevic (Minnesota) 6-2, 6-2.

In doubles, Salazar and Gonzalez took on Wisconsin’s Martim Vilela and Robert Krill, defeating the Badger duo 8-6.

Howard-Tripp and Mesquida teamed up to face Lamar Remy and Chase Colton of Wisconsin, falling 8-3.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Singles
Qualifier
Jose Salazar def. Brad Luetschwager (IUPUI) 6-2, 6-1
Jose Salazar def. Michael Dube (Michigan State) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles
Salazar/Gonzalez def. Vilela/Krill (Wisconsin) 8-6
Remy/Colton (Wisconsin) def. Howard-Tripp/Mesquida 8-3

FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Singles
Main Draw – First Round
Jose Salazar def. Luke Smrek (Marquette) 6-2, 6-1
Stefan Milicevic (Minnesota) def. Matias Gonzalez 6-2, 6-2
Josh Howard-Tripp def. Kareem Allaf (Iowa) 6-3, 6-2
Oscar Mesquida def. Linue Erhart (Nebraska) 6-3, 6-4

Main Draw – Second Round
Jose Salazar def. Zeke Clark (Illinois) 7-6 (2), 7-6 (4)
Josh Howard-Tripp def. Jackson Allen (Minnesota) 6-2, 6-4
Felix Corwin (Minnesota) def. Oscar Mesquida 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

For more information on Razorback men’s tennis, please follow @RazorbackMTEN on Twitter.