Tritons Defeat Royals in Season Opener

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's tennis team opened the season with a 6-1 victory over Warner (Fla.) at the Bullard Courts Saturday afternoon.

The Tritons (1-0) beat the Royals (0-1) after earning the doubles point and taking five singles matches.

The Tritons swept the doubles point to open the day. Batu Ataseven and Mario Kirkov took the top pairing 6-2 while Adrian Gheorghe and Marshall Hulett took the second doubles 6-3, clinching the point. Eric Asakura and Lukas Palla picked up the victory in tiebreak in the No. 3 spot 7-6 (7-3) to complete the doubles sweep.  

Ataseven and Kirkov quickly put the Tritons up 3-0 on the day, with a pair of two-set victories in the top two singles spots. Ataseven made quick work of Rodriguez in the top spot, 6-2, 6-1, while Kirkov took the No. 2 singles 6-4, 6-1. 

Hulett clinched the match for Eckerd in a three set victory, rallying back from a 7-5 first set loss. Hulett took set two 6-4 and the tiebreak 10-7 for the Tritons to secure the victory. 

Palla and Gheorghe each picked up their first singles victories as a Triton, with Palla taking the No. 5 spot in 6-2, 6-1, and Gheorghe taking the No. 6 spot 6-2, 6-2.

Eckerd opens conference play Sunday against Lynn at 2:00 PM at the Bullard Courts. 

Singles competition 

1. Batu Ataseven (ECM) def. Luis Rodriguez (WU) 6-2, 6-1

2.  Mario Kirkov (ECM) def. Artur Fernandes (WU) 6-4, 6-1

3. Marshall Hulett (ECM) def. Enzo Barquna(WU) 5-7, 6-4, 10-7

4. Diego Pessoa (WU) def. Eric Asakura (ECM) 6-1, 1-6, 10-4

5. Lukas Palla (ECM) def. Niklas Huth (WU) 6-2, 6-1

6. Adrian Gheorghe (ECM) def. Julio Infante (WU) 6-2, 6-2
 

Doubles competition 

1. Batu Ataseven/Mario Kirkov (ECM) def. Carlos Quinones/Enzo Barquna (WU) 6-2

2.Adrian Gheorghe/Marshall Hulett (ECM) def. Artur Fernandes/Diego Pessoa (WU) 6-3(7-4)

3. Eric Asakura/Lukas Palla (ECM) def. Niklas Huth/Nithil Mittal (WU) 7-6 (7-3)