Courtesy of Utah State Athletics –
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Utah State men’s tennis fifth-year senior Bodin Zarkovic became only the third Aggie in program history to reach the finals of the ITA Mountain Regional and etched his name in USU history as the first-ever Aggie to win.
In the semifinals of the singles draw, senior Stijn Paardekooper took his first loss of the tournament as he faced Denver junior Daniel Sancho Arbizu in a dogfight of a match. After a first-set tiebreak loss, Paardekooper won the second set 7-5 before taking a 6-3 third-set loss.
Zarkovic’s semifinal match was won via walkover of BYU’s Jack Barnett due to the university’s Sunday play observance policy.
In the main draw finals, Zarkovic posted a comeback win over Arbizu after falling short in the first set, 3-6. The Aggie then held Arbizu scoreless in the second set and went on to take the title with a 6-3 third-set victory.
This is Zarkovic’s second main draw title of the 2023 fall tournament season, the first coming from the Air-Force hosted Bedford Cup in the Mountains.
Utah State men’s tennis will continue its fall tournament season at the Idaho State Invitational starting Friday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 8.
Fans can follow USU’s men’s tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at /UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram at USUMensTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
ITA Mountain Regional Results
Day Four Results
Singles
Main Draw – Semifinals
Daniel Sancho Arbizu (DEN) def. Stijn Paardekooper (USU) 7-6 (3), 5-7, 6-3
Bodin Zarkovic (USU) def. Jack Barnett (BYU) WO [Withdrawn]
Main Draw – Finals
Bodin Zarkovic (USU) def. Daniel Sancho Arbizu (DEN) 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
– USU –
