DALLAS, TX- The Western New Mexico University men's tennis team wrapped up the Texas Wesleyan Invite Saturday in Dallas after two days of competitive singles and doubles action.
The Mustangs showed strong competitiveness and energy throughout the tournament, with Alvaro Fernandez Caceres (Badajoz, Spain/Colegio Santa Maria Assumpta) standing out after completing an undefeated run. Head coach Jesus Baltazar gave special recognition to Fernandez Caceres, who did not drop a single set in either singles or doubles. As a newcomer, Baltazar described the accomplishment as "pretty big" and said the tournament was a great first tournament for the team.
In singles, Fernandez Caceres continued his perfect run Saturday with a 6-2, 6-4 victory after earning wins of 7-5, 7-6(1) and 6-1, 6-0 on Friday. He also teamed with Matisse Pierre (Nantes, France/IUT GEA Nantes) in doubles, where the pair went undefeated with a 6-4 victory Friday followed by 6-2- and 6-4-wins Saturday.
Pierre also finished Saturday with an 8-0 singles victory after earning an 8-0 win Friday following a 6-7, 4-6 opening-round loss.
David Guta (Bucharest, Romania/Liceul Teoretic C.A. Rosetti) opened Friday with a 6-1, 6-2 victory before dropping his second match 5-7, 6-0, 6-10. He bounced back Saturday with an 8-4 victory and also earned a 6-3 doubles win.
Christopher Lund-Kuhl (Vaerloese, Denmark/Kruses Gymnasium) earned a 9-7 singles victory Saturday after dropping his two Friday matches, 4-6, 4-6 and 6-8. In doubles, Lund-Kuhl and Markuss Oto Meidrops (Ikskile, Latvia/Ikskiles Highschool) earned a 6-4 victory Friday before dropping their Saturday matches 2-6 and 1-6.
Meidrops advanced to the singles main draw Friday after posting wins of 6-0, 6-0 and 4-6, 6-3, 10-4 before dropping his Saturday match 4-6, 4-6.
Nico Lackner (Salzburg, Austria/Bundesgymnasium Seekirchen) earned an 8-3 singles victory Saturday after competing in doubles Friday. He and Djamel-Dine Bey (Paris, France/National Centre for Distance Education (Online)) earned a 6-3 doubles victory Friday before splitting their Saturday matches, falling 4-6 and winning 6-2.
Olivier Hutton (Saint-Pierre, France/Centre National d'Enseignement a Distance) advanced to the singles main draw Friday after 6-4, 6-1 and 6-0, 6-0 victories before dropping his Saturday match 2-6, 6-2, 7-10.
Djamel- Dine Beyopened Friday with a 6-3, 6-3 singles victory before dropping his next match 6-7(7-9), 1-6. He retired from his Saturday singles match at 2-6.
Benjamin Vriens went 6-3, 6-2 and 0-6, 1-6 in singles Friday before receiving a walkover Saturday. He also earned a 6-3 doubles victory Saturday before receiving a walkover in his second match.
The Mustangs closed out the two-day invitational with valuable competition and experience, with Fernandez Caceres' undefeated performance providing a strong highlight for WNMU in its opening tournament of the fall season.
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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (X, TikTok & Instagram).
