A busy weekend of tennis began for both the men and women yesterday at the Pacific-10 Championships in Ojai, Calif. The first day provided a healthy mix of ups and downs, as well as a few eliminations.
Of the four Oregon men to compete in the championship draw, only senior Alexander Cornelissen advanced to the round of 16. The sixth-seeded Cornelissen topped Derek Drabble of Washington by a score of 6-3, 6-3.
The other three were not so fortunate. Fellow senior Ric Mortera was upstaged by Ryan Thacher of Stanford, while sophomore Jose Izquierdo and freshman Nico Bjerke also lost in straight sets.
Bjerke and Mortera will, however, have a chance to compete in the doubles tournament starting today. Cornelissen will also compete, teaming up with senior Marcos Verdasco.
The Ducks had slightly better luck in the invitational draw. Junior Duncan MacDonald-Korth, sophomore Sho Higuchi, and freshmen Aaron Clissold and Mitch Somach each chalked up victories in the opening round.
Clissold also won his round of 16 matchup, and will compete in the quarterfinals today. Somach fell in the round of 16, while the other two players competed later Thursday afternoon.
The women were not so lucky in the early rounds. Junior Pavlina Smatova and sophomore Trudie du Toit lost in the championship draw opening round, and only junior Emmanuelle Cor won in the invitational draw.
The women’s championship and invitational doubles play begins today. Smatova and du Toit will team up in the championship draw, and two pairs will play in the invitational draw — Cor and freshman Patricia Skowronski, as well as sophomore Molly McDevitt and freshman Julia Metzger.
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