TCU's Brighiu, Nichols Advance in Pre-Qualifying at Tulsa

TULSA, OKLAHOMA (October 4, 2008) TCU opened competition at the D’Novo ITA All-American Tennis Championships Saturday during second- and third-round action of the men’s pre-qualifying draw. Two of three Horned Frogs competing advanced on to Sunday’s fourth round after each received first-round byes during Friday’s opening session.

“I was pleased with the results our guys put up today,” head coach Dave Borelli said. “We have played more matches than we had at this time last week (TCU’s season opener), and it really showed.

“A couple of our guys found ways to win when they weren’t at their best today, and I was impressed by that. It is very important for them to still be able to compete well when they are not on top of their games.”

Sophomores Emanu Brighiu and Zach Nichols posted a pair of victories each Saturday, including respective three-set wins in the third round. Brighiu, the draw’s No. 12 seed, quickly defeated UC Santa Barbara’s Max Taylor, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round before surviving a first-set loss to NC State’s David Chermak in the third round, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Nichols, the draw’s No. 19 seed who reached the consolation final of the “A” draw of last week’s Baylor Invitational, dispatched his second-round opponent, UT-Arlington’s Brieuc Hammon, by a score of 6-3, 6-4. He later earned a three-set win over Central Florida’s Brock Staley, 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2, to move on to Sunday’s fourth round.

Junior Adrian Simon, TCU’s top-seeded player in the pre-qualifying bracket at No. 4, survived a three-set battle with Alex Konigsfeldt (UC Santa Barbara) in his opening match, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-2, but was unable to hold off New Mexico’s Miles Bugby in the third round, 6-4, 6-7[4], 2-6.

Competition in the pre-qualifying singles draw at the D’Novo ITA All-American Championships continues Sunday. Brighiu and Nichols each need to post only one more victory to move on to the Monday’s qualifying draw.


Men’s Pre-Qualifying Singles – Second Round(4) Adrian Simon (TCU) def. Alex Konigsfeldt (UC Santa Barbara) 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-2
(12) Emanu Brighiu (TCU) def. Max Taylor (UC Santa Barbara) 6-2, 6-2
(19) Zach Nichols (TCU) def. Brieuc Hammon (UT-Arlington) 6-3, 6-4

Men’s Pre-Qualifying Singles – Third Round
(12) Emanu Brighiu (TCU) def. David Chermak (NC State) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
(19) Zach Nichols (TCU) def. Brock Sakey (Central Florida) 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2
Miles Bugby (New Mexico) def. (4) Adrian Simon (TCU) 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2

Sunday Schedule
Men’s Pre-Qualifying Singles – Fourth Round
(12) Emanu Brighiu (TCU) v. Rodrigo Morgado (UT-San Antonio)
(19) Zach Nichols (TCU) v. (3) Davey Sandgren (Tennessee)