Oct. 15, 2010

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – South Carolina sophomore Alexander Kostanov barreled through the first round of the ITA Carolina Regional Friday afternoon, yielding just one game in his match. He and 14th-seeded Ivan Machado, who earned a first-round bye, will take on challengers in the Round of 64 Saturday.

Kostanov wasted little time in dispatching Rafael Perez of NC State 6-0, 6-1 to get the Gamecocks started. The four other South Carolina players on the court Friday were not as successful, however, as they switch to the consolation bracket for Saturday’s play. Harry Menzies played a tight first set before falling to NC State’s Julian Sullivan 6-4, 6-2. Chris Sheehan dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to the Wolfpack’s Akash Gujarati as well. Junior Henry Walker fell 6-1, 6-3 to Michael Pereira of UNC Wilmington, and freshman Jake Bowling suffered a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Coastal Carolina’s Leo Christofides.

All six Gamecocks will play again on Saturday. In the Main Draw, Machado makes his tournament debut against Kosta Blank of UNC Wilmington at 10:30 a.m., and Kostanov will take on Appalachian State’s Alex Markov at 8:30 a.m. In the Consolation Draw, 10 a.m. is the start time for Menzies’ match against Campbell’s Larbi and Lamzouri and Bowling’s showdown with Alex Christ of Furman. Walker takes on NC State’s Ivan Sanchez at noon, and Sheehan will face North Carolina’s Zach Hunter at 12:30 p.m.

Click here for full tournament draws and results.

Results

Round of 128
Alexander Kostanov (SC) def. Rafeal Perez (NCSU) 6-0, 6-1
Michael Pereira (UNCW) def. Henry Walker (SC) 6-1, 6-3
Leo Christofides (CCU) def. Jake Bowling (SC) 6-3, 6-1
Julian Sullivan (NCSU) def. Harry Menzies (SC) 6-4, 6-2
Akash Gujarati (NCSU) def. Chris Sheehan (SC) 6-3, 6-2