The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team had a strong start to the 2019 Saint Francis Health System/ITA Men's All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla., today.  Three Mocs advanced to the Round of 64 in the pre-qualifying bracket. 

The pre-qualifying singles draw includes 256 automatic, at-large and wild card selections, with the final 16 advancing to the qualifying draw on Oct. 7-8.

Senior Niklas Gerdes led the way with a (6-3, 6-1) win over Arkansas's Corey Clark in the second round.  He opened with a three set win over UT-Arlington's Angel Diaz Jalil (6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5 in the first round and faces Auburn's Tom Dolman on Sunday.

Sophomore Tomas Rodriguez posted a three set win over Iowa's Jason Kerst in the first round (2-6, 6-2, 6-2). He went on to score a (6-1, 6-2) win over UAB's Daniel Janko in the second round.  He takes on St. John's Aditya Vashistha on Sunday.

Sophomore Kerim Hyatt also advanced.  He opened with a walkover against Rice's Mohamed Abdel-Aziz and followed with a three-set win against Arkansas's Enrique Paya (7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-4).  He faces Notre Dame's William Howells tomorrow.

Senior Simon Bustamante dropped his first match (6-3, 6-1) in a tight battle against Cal's Kent Hunter.  He takes on Matt Rodriguez of Oklahoma in tomorrow's consolation action.

Pre-Qualifying Draw
Niklas Gerdes (UTC) def. Angel Diaz Jalil (UT-Arlington) – (6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-5)
Niklas Gerdes (UTC) def. Corey Clark (Arkansas) – 6-3, 6-1
Kent Hunter (Cal) def. Simon Bustamante (UTC) – 6-3, 6-1
Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Mohamed Abdel-Aziz (Rice) – WO
Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Enrique Paya (Arkansas) – 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-4
Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Jason Kerst (Iowa) – 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Daniel Janko (UAB) – 6-1, 6-2