Hernandez Shines as JMU Opens Fall Play at Jersey Mike’s UNCW Invitational

WILMINGTON, N.C. – James Madison men's tennis opened the fall tournament season Friday at the Jersey Mike's UNCW Invitational, picking up four singles wins and one doubles triumph at Porters Neck Country Club.

Sophomore Oscar Hernandez went unbeaten in the first fall tournament of his young career, going 2-0 in singles and 1-0 in doubles.

He and freshman Youssef Sadek kicked things off with a 6-1 win against UNCW's John Dransfeld and Ignacio Sandoval, marking the first career victory for Sadek. Hernandez and Sadek advance to Saturday's main draw quarterfinals, along with the team of junior Holden Koons and senior William Karpinski, who earned a first-round bye.

In singles play, Hernandez took a pair of straight-set victories, which included a win over the field's #2 ranked player. He began the afternoon with a 6-4, 6-4 win against ETSU's Juan Jose Vargas and followed that up by taking down UNCW'as Davide Innocenti, the second-ranked individual in Flight A. He advances to Saturday's semifinals with his 7-5, 7-5 win.

Koons bounced back from an opening-round singles setback, downing UNCG's Roger Rogowski in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, in the consolation quarterfinals. In a matchup of teammates, Karpinski defeated Sadek, 6-3, 6-2, in the consolation bracket.

UP NEXT
JMU continues play in Wilmington for day two of the UNCW Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 17 with one round of singles and two rounds of doubles play.

Jersey Mike's UNCW Invitational – Day One Results
Flight A Singles
R16 Oscar Hernandez (JMU) def. Juan Jose Vargas (ETSU), 6-4, 6-4
R16: Erik Gran (Youngstown State) def. Holden Koons (JMU), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
R16: Gabe Hurtado (UNCW) def. Youssef Sadek (JMU), 6-2, 6-2
R16: Reece Falck (UNCW) def. William Karpinski (JMU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
R16 Bekhzod Rasamatov (UNCW) def. Mario Pena (JMU), 6-0, 6-0
QF: Oscar Hernandez (JMU) def. Davide Innocenti (UNCW), 7-5, 7-5
CQF: Holden Koons (JMU) def. Roger Rogowski (UNCG), 6-1, 6-4
CQF: William Karpinski (JMU) def. Youssef Sadek (JMU), 6-3, 6-2
CQF: Harry Fouzas (Youngstown State) def. Mario Pena (JMU), 6-1, 6-1

Flight B Singles
QF: Ignacio Sandoval (UNCW) def. Stefan Petrovic (JMU), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
QF: Juan Lombisano (ETSU) def. Mathieu Josserand (JMU), 6-2, 7-6(6)

Doubles Draw
R16: Oscar Hernandez/Youssef Sadek (JMU) def. John Dransfeld/Ignacio Sandoval (UNCW), 6-1
R16: Reece Falck/Samuel de Felipe (UNCW) def. Stefan Petrovic/Mathieu Josserand (JMU), 6-4
R16 Davide Innocenti/Bekhzod Rasamatov (UNCW) def. Mario Pena (JMU)/David Flisberg (UNCG), 6-3

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