Four Move On To Singles Semifinals at Duck Invite

EUGENE, Ore. – Four Oregon players advanced to the semifinals of their respective singles draws while one Duck doubles pair moved on to the quarterfinals on the opening day of the Duck Invitational Friday at the Student Tennis Center.
 
How it Happened: Avi Shugar and Ryoma Matsushita got the day started with an 8-6 win in the first round of the doubles draw, knocking off a pair from Nevada. Luke Vandecasteele and Jesper Klov-Nilsson followed with first round singles wins in the Green Draw, with Vandecasteele battling his way to a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win and Klov-Nilsson winning 7-6(1), 6-4.
 
Shugar and Matsushita each advanced in the Yellow Draw, with Matsushita rolling to a 6-1, 6-1 win and Shugar grinding out a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win.
 
Josh Charlton kicked off afternoon quarterfinals action with a 6-2, 6-4 win to become the first Duck in the semifinals of the Green Draw. Klov-Nilsson joined Charlton in the semifinals, battling back from a tough first set to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-1.
 
Two Ducks also got to the semifinals in the Yellow Draw, as Matsushita turned in another strong performance in a 6-3, 6-2 win. Shugar advanced to the semis after his opponent withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
 
Doubles Results (First Round)
Shugar/Matsushita (ORE) def. Zisswiller/Batalla (NEV), 8-6
 
Singles Results – Green Draw (First Round)
Luke Vandecasteele (ORE) def. Jan Pucalka (UNM), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Jesper Klov-Nilsson (ORE) def. Nils Plutat (PSU), 7-6(1), 6-4
 
Singles Results – Yellow Draw (First Round)
Will Jesser (PSU) def. Nima Movassaghi (ORE), 6-0, 6-1
 
Singles Results – Yellow Draw (Second Round)
Avi Shugar (ORE) def. Juan Batalla (NEV), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Ryoma Matsushita (ORE) def. Leo Hibi (UP), 6-1, 6-1
 
Singles Results – Green Draw (Quarterfinals)
Josh Charlton (ORE) def. Issa Yoshida (UP), 6-2, 6-4
Jesper Klov-Nilsson (ORE) def. Rafael Abdulsalam (UNM), 1-6, 7-5, 6-1
Rikuto Yamaguchi (UP) def. Luke Vandecasteele (ORE), 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-1
 
Singles Results – Yellow Draw (Quarterfinals)
Ryoma Matsushita (ORE) def. Satchel Benn (NEV), 6-3, 6-2
Avi Shugar (ORE) def. Nicklas Oberg (UP), WD - Injury
 
Up Next: Day two of the Duck Invitational begins with doubles play at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Student Tennis Center.