SUMTER, S.C. --- Frank Bonacia and Nemanja Subanovic each won their opening men's singles matches for Tusculum University at the ITA Southeast Regional Championship at the Palmetto Tennis Center on Friday.
Bonacia and Subanovic each received a bye in the opening round, and each followed up with a straight-set victory to advance to the Round of 32 Saturday morning. Bonacia defeated Sarvesh Maria of Southern Wesleyan 6-0, 6-2 and Subanovic downed Samuel Winter of Coker 6-4, 7-5 in his first match of the weekend. Subanovic will face Ryan Gaskin of North Georgia at 11:30 Saturday morning, and Bonacia will square off with Gabriel Cizek of Georgia College at noon.
Freshman Robin Eldin and senior Kenta Kondou won opening-round matches to advance to the main draw, but both were beaten in their second matches of the day to drop to the consolation bracket. Eldin defeated Giulio Sassi of North Georgia 6-2, 6-4 but lost 6-1, 6-2 to top seed Alvaro Regalado of Columbus State. Kondou was a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 winner over Leonel Hernandez Gonzalez of Francis Marion in his first match, then took the lead over Rhodri Atkinson of Lenoir-Rhyne who rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win. Eldin will play Bruno Medeiros of Lee in the consolation round and Kondou will face Sean Keane of Coker, with both matches starting at 2:30 on Saturday.
In doubles, Bonacia and Subanovic received a bye and will face Gabriel Constantino and Edis Nokic of Wingate at 8:00 Saturday morning in the round of 32. Eldin and Kondou lost their opening doubles match to the North Georgia duo of Gaskin and Sebastian Murillo in a tiebreaker by a score of 9-8 (7-3).
Competition will continue in both singles and doubles through Sunday, with championship matches scheduled for Monday.
MEN'S SINGLES
Round of 128
Robin Eldin d. Giulio Sassi (North Georgia) 6-2, 6-4
Kenta Kondou d. Leonel Hernandez Gonzalez (Francis Marion) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
Round of 64
Nemanja Subanovic d. Samuel Winter (Coker) 6-4, 7-5
Frank Bonacia d. Sarvesh Maria (Southern Wesleyan) 6-0, 6-2
Alvaro Regalado (Columbus State) d. Robin Eldin 6-1, 6-2
Rhodri Atkinson (Lenoir-Rhyne) d. Kenta Kondou 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Round of 32
Nemanja Subanovic vs. Ryan Gaskin (North Georgia), Saturday 11:30 AM
Frank Bonacia vs. Gabriel Cizek (Georgia College), Saturday 12:00 PM
Consolation Round of 64
Robin Eldin vs. Bruno Medeiros (Lee), Saturday 2:30 PM
Kenta Kondou vs. Sean Keane (Coker), Saturday 2:30 PM
MEN'S DOUBLES
Round of 32
Ryan Gaskin/Sebastian Murillo (North Georgia) d. Robin Eldin/Kenta Kondou 9-8 (7-3)
Round of 16
Frank Bonacia/Nemanja Subanovic vs. Gabriel Constantino/Edis Nokic (Wingate), Saturday 8:00 AM
