The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Helliar, Rondino Stay Perfect At ITA All-American
9/29/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sept. 29, 2013
TULSA, Okla. ---- UAB tennis players Chris Helliar and Rafael Rondino both won a pair of singles matches here Sunday to stay alive in the Pre-Qualifying draw at the ITA All-American Championships.
The Blazer seniors are now just one singles win away from advancing to the Qualifying bracket.
Both Helliar and Rondino have been outstanding in Tulsa this weekend and throughout the early fall season.
Helliar is now 9-0 this fall, including a singles championship he earned two weeks ago at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships in Athens, Ga.
Helliar, from Bournemouth, England, won two three-set battles Sunday, downing Tennessee's Markus Kerner (6-1, 5-7, 6-2) and South Florida's Oliver Pramming (5-7, 6-4, 6-0).
He will now take on Oklahoma State's Vasili Caripi Monday with a berth in the next draw on the line.
Rondino also improved to 3-0 at the ITA All-American with two Sunday victories. The native of Barueri, Brazil has yet to lose a set in Tulsa and is now 7-2 this fall.
Rondino defeated Joel Rubio of UTSA in his second round match, 7-6 (3), 6-3, before cruising past Konrad Zieba of Northwestern, 6-4, 6-1. Rondino now will play Indiana's Sven Lalic Monday and like Helliar, a win would advance Rondino to the Qualifying draw.
