Men's Tennis Wraps Up Outstanding Opening Weekend with Several Championship Victories
The NJIT men's tennis team kicked off its Fall 2022 schedule in style this weekend, winning several championships at the St. Joes Invitational, which took place from Friday through Sunday on the campus of St. Joseph's University.
"What an incredible weekend of tennis!" exclaimed second-year Head Coach Marco Matteucci. "I'm so proud of everyone's effort this weekend and I really feel like we earned every win."
Pablo Perez Ramos was NJIT's top performer, winning the singles championship in the top flight and joining teammate Amine El Kholti to take home the doubles championship, also in the top flight. Oscar Callo von Platen is also returning to Newark with a trophy as the sophomore won the singles third flight.
Perez Ramos won four matches over three days to win his singles title, capping it off with a two-set victory in the championship round as he defeated Lehigh's Matt Kleinman 7-6(4), 6-0 on Sunday.
The sophomore also paired up with El Kholti, a senior, in doubles play and the duo earned four victories culminated by a 6-3 championship round win over teammates Pavel Petrov and Samuel Townes in an All-NJIT final.
Callo von Platen went 4-0 as well this weekend and followed up a three-set semifinal win with a dominating 6-3, 6-0 victory over Marist's Alex Thompson to earn the championship.
The Highlanders added a pair of backdraw wins to their impressive weekend as well. Nejc Skorjanc dropped his first collegiate match on Friday, but bounced back to win three times to take the backdraw title in the top flight, defeating teammate El Kholti 8-6 in the final round. In the second doubles flight, Callo von Platen teamed up with Ashwin Kanetkar and the pair won three matches after losing their opening match for a title of their own. Callo von Platen and Kanetkar knocked off Villanova's Cooper Gordon and Justin Suarez 6-3.
"To have seven of our 10 players come home with tournament wins in the main draw and back draw was an amazing accomplishment," added Matteucci. "This sets a great tone for what we can do out there this season."
NJIT will look to carry the momentum into next weekend's Army Shootout, which will be hosted by Army West Point beginning Friday and wrapping up on Sunday.