Men’s tennis plays in ITA Regionals

Troy Athletics photo Nicolas Simkin crushes a backhand in the 2024 SBC Tournament.

The Troy men’s tennis team traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to take part in the ITA Southern Regionals.

The Trojans were eliminated after three days of competition, with Nicolas Simkin advancing to the second round of singles play. The doubles pairing of Yeray Andres Pastor and Noah Martens also moved on to the round of 32 in the main draw.

After securing qualifying round wins over players from Jacksonville State and New Orleans – 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 and 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 respectively – Simkin made it through to the main draw. He handled Olle Noltorp of Southern Miss 6-2, 6-3 to move on to the second round.

Simkin was knocked out in the second round following a tightly contested battle with Alabama’s Matias Ponce de Leon, losing 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (3-7), 6-2. After dropping the first set in a tiebreak, the senior fought back and evened the match in another tiebreak set. However, Ponce de Leon bested Simkin in the third set.

Andres Pastor and Martens won their opening round match in a close fight against a team from UAB, 8-7 (7-4). The pair of Trojans squared off against Sun Belt Conference foes William Ribero and Leonard Tramolay from Louisiana in the second round.

The Trojans fell in a 8-7 (7-5) match to be eliminated from the regional. Although those were the only players to advance to the second round, Troy put up close fights on every front.

Henrique de Brito and Simkin nearly upset a doubles team from Ole Miss, but ultimately lost 8-7 (7-3).

Additionally, four Trojans besides Simkin made it past the qualifying round in singles play.

Martens, Andres Pastor, Vicente Arbelaez and Hiiro Sakamoto all played in the round of 64. Arbelaez, Sakamoto and Simkin each won two matches in the qualifying round.

The four Trojans lost in the first round, but Andres Pastor was able to take a set from Alabama State’s David Jeanne-Grandinot. He also bested a player from Southern Miss 6-1, 6-0 in the consolation bracket.

Troy currently doesn’t have any other events planned before the team starts the 2025 spring season against North Florida on Jan. 11.