The Sentinel

Illini advance, first-round results from the Neitzel Family Open

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Former University of Illinois player Alexander Petrov lines up a down-the-line shot during his match against Zeke Clark. In the sweltering late afternoon heat on Wednesday, Petrov, who had lost two previous matches to Clark, won the day at the International Tennis Federation-sanctioned tournament held at Atkins Tennis Center.

URBANA - One former and two current University of Illinois tennis players were on their home court at Atkins Tennis Center on Tuesday. The trio, each having to battle three-set matches, advanced to Wednesday's second-round competition at the Neitzel Family Open.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Karlis Ozolins stays in the point against Andre Ilagan as an afternoon storm rolls in toward Atkins Tennis Center. After a two-hour rain delay Ozolins fell 6-3, 7-5.

In an alumni match, Alexander Petrov took down Illinois assistant tennis coach Zeke Clark in a grueling three-setter, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0. Despite the loss, Clark still owns the series between the two former Big Ten players at the pro level, 2-1.

William Mroz, who enters his senior year at Illinois, defeated Canadian Dan Martin in a marathon match 6(2)-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Later, Kenta Miyoshi dropped his first set 6-3 and then took the next two, 7-6(5), 6-4.

The third installment of the Neitzel Family Open has a total purse of $25,000. The week-long, ITF-sanctioned event has attracted young players from all over the world.

Below are the complete results from the tournament's first round.

Main Draw Results ~
Tyler Zink def Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez 6(5)-7, 6-4, 6-2
Kenta Miyoshi def James Tracy 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4
Connor Bruce def Nathan Powwith 6-3, 6-4
Harrison Adams def Cleeve Harper 6-3, 6-1
Andre Ilagan def Karlis Ozolins 6-3, 7-5
William Mroz def Dan Martin 6(2)-7, 6-2, 6-1
Aidan Kim def Axel Nefve 7-6(5), 6-2
Gavin Young def Enzo Wallart 6-4, 6-3
William Grant def Ryuki Matsuda 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
Noah Schachter def Lucas Horve 6-3, 7-6(5)
Adhithya Ganesan def Alexander Bernard 6-3, 6-4
Cannon Kingsley def Gabrielius Guzauskas 6-2, 6-3
Duarte Vale def Kody Pearson 6-2, 6-1
Colton Smith def Kyle Kang 6-4, 6-4
Alexander Petrov dev Ezekiel Clark 5-7, 6-2, 6-0
Aidan McHugh def Emilio Gomez 6-4, 6(3)-7, 6-3

Guest Commentary |

Biden couldn't keep his head above water any longer

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

President Joe Biden could no longer keep his head above water and drowned this past Sunday. Democrat leaders turned their backs and covered their ears to Biden’s gurgling for oxygen as he no longer could tread water and succumbed to the swirling, raging political waters.

For 50 years, Biden has worked for and supported the Democrat party but in these recent days the party leaders turned their backs on him as big money donors called the shots with their pocketbooks. As the money flow came to a halt, the party leaders began to cry and beg Biden to resign from the 2024 Presidential race.

Keep in mind that, with party support, Biden had raised over 200 million dollars. That’s a lot of money to enrich television station owners across the country. How much of this money will go to the Democrat nominee is yet to be seen. Whether it’s Vice President Kamala Harris or whoever we can be assured Biden won’t transfer all that money to the new nominee. How much money Harris, or whoever is running, raises between now and November, will not be as much as Biden has raised in the last couple of years.

Wouldn’t you love to have the leadership of the Democrat party as your best friends? When the going got tough, they folded and left President Biden to drown.

Donald Trump’s supporters have stood with him through the fires of hell. Everything has been thrown at Trump, including bullets, and support for Trump has only grown. The prosecution and persecution of Trump only strengthened him as his numbers became stronger. The more he was in the news for being in court or faced the possibility of jail, the more his supporters stood with him.

Biden had already slowed down during the 2020 campaign. However, he was able to keep a steady conversation going at their two debates. Plus he had the majority of the American media backing him.

This time around they hoped the Biden who did well with his State of the Union speech would be the one who showed up to debate with Trump. Biden was not able to rise to the occasion sending his supporters in a tailspin.

Biden has slipped since his early years in the Senate. He is not the articulate orator we remember from way back then. There was a day and time when I admired Joe Biden’s numerous abilities.

President Biden will always be able to look back and remember the voters elected him to represent the Democrat party. What happened to the will of the people?

Biden tried to keep swimming as he had one more goal line he wanted to cross. Unfortunately, he needed a life jacket this time and no one in his party would throw him one.

Give thought and consideration as to who you consider your friends. If they will let a 50-year plus devoted friend drown, what will they do to you?

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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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