SAINT LEO, Fla. – The third-ranked Saint Leo University men's tennis team went 2-0 on day one of the 2024 season to secure first-place at the 2024 PTR Collegiate Cup. The four-team event was hosted between the Saint Leo Tennis Center and Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel. Francis Marion, Georgia College, and Tusculum made the trip south to compete in the two-match tournament.

Saint Leo was matched up against Francis Marion in the opening round. Playing to clinch, the Lions defeated FMU, 4-0 at home. Vicent Thiel and Eduardo Cohen made easy work of their first opponent of 2024 with a 6-1 win at number three doubles. The Lions clinched the doubles point as Martin Soukal and Luis Iriate picked up a 6-3 win at number one doubles.  

Nicolas Bacella won both sets 6-2 to put Saint Leo up 2-0 in the opening match at number four singles. Soukal bounced back from a first set loss to win the final two sets 6-0 at number one singles. Thiel secured the match point for the home team as he won both sets in a tiebreaker.

Saint Leo moved on to Saddlebrook Resort where the Lions faced Tusculum in the championship match.

Just like the opening match, Thiel and Cohen used a 6-1 victory at number three doubles to open the match. Soukal and Iriate clinched the doubles point for the Green and Gold with a 6-2 win at number one doubles.

Thiel put the Lions up 2-0 with a pair of 6-3 wins at number two singles. Following a two-set win at number three singles by Ghali Mensour, Soukal clinched the match point 7-5 for the championship.
 
#3 Saint Leo 4, Francis Marion 0
Doubles
1. Martin Soukal/Luis Iriarte (SLU) def. Martin Barbera/Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) 6-3
2. #7 Ghali Mensour/Nicolas Bacella (SLU) vs. Alexander Mirkov/Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 5-2, UF
3. Vincent Thiel/Eduardo Cohen (SLU) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans/Ben Scott (FMU) 6-1
 
Singles
1. #18 Martin Soukal (SLU) def. Martin Barbera (FMU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-0
2. #36 Vincent Thiel (SLU) def. Harri Lloyd-Evans (FMU) 7-6(5), 7-6(5)
3. Ghali Mensour (SLU) vs. Leonel Gonzalez (FMU) 6-1, 4-6, 5-2, UF
4. Nicolas Bacella (SLU) def. Luis Lopez Sarasa (FMU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Luis Iriarte (SLU) vs. Ben Scott (FMU) 6-2, UF
6. Dylan Andrianaly (SLU) vs. Alexander Mirkov (FMU) UF

Order of finish
Doubles: 3,1
Singles: 4,1,2
 
#3 Saint Leo 4, Tusculum 0
Doubles
1. Martin Soukal/Luis Iriarte (SLU) def. Nemanja Subanovic/Anton Krondell (TU) 6-2
2. #7 Ghali Mensour/Nicolas Bacella (SLU) vs. Yuki Ikeda/Tijn van Gorkom (TU) 5-3, UF
3. Vincent Thiel/Eduardo Cohen (SLU) def. Will Gee/Ivan Ivars (TU) 6-1

Singles
1. #18 Martin Soukal (SLU) def. Nemanja Subanovic (TU) 6-2, 7-5
2. #36 Vincent Thiel (SLU) def. Anton Krondell (TU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Ghali Mensour (SLU) def. Will Gee (TU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Nicolas Bacella (SLU) vs. Rens Verhaar (TU) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0, UF
5. Luis Iriarte (SLU) vs. Yuki Ikeda (TU) 5-0, UF
6. Dylan Andrianaly (SLU) vs. Ivan Ivars (TU) UF
 
Order of finish
Doubles: 3,1
Singles: 2,3,1

The Lions are back on the court on February 8 when they open SSC play as Florida Southern comes to town. First serve is set for 3 p.m.

For the latest news, updates, and information on Saint Leo men's tennis, visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.