TUCSON, Ariz. – New Mexico State men's tennis found success in singles action on the opening day of the Arizona Invitational. The Aggies had six players advance to the quarterfinals and three to further move on to the semifinals, with all three doubles teams advancing as well.
 
In doubles play, Sergi Espias and Enrique Asmar took down Grand Canyon's tandem of Mathieu Rajaonah and Lorenzo Fucile 7-6. On the other side of the bracket, Christofer Goncalves and Luis Pliego Flores bested Arizona's pair of Jose Zamorano and Mike Lee 6-2. At that same side of the bracket, Stijn de Haan and Mauri Benitez downed GCU's Justin Cvitanovic and Valentin Lang 6-2.
 
In singles action, five of the seven Aggie players advanced to the quarterfinals. After winning his match in the opening round, Goncalves downed GCU's Greg Balenci 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the semifinals. Benitez advanced with a 6-1, 6-7, 6-2 win over GCU's Phillip Kuehmen. Sergi Espias rounded out the advancing Aggies when he knocked off Francois Musitelli of GCU 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.
 
Action continues on Saturday with doubles action at 9 a.m. (MT) before moving on to singles play.
 
Arizona Invitational (Day 1)
Doubles
Round of 16
Espias/Asmar (NMSU) def. Rajaonah/Fucile (GCU) – 7-6
Goncalves/Flores (NMSU) def. Zamorano/Lee (UA) – 6-2
de Haan/Benitez (NMSU) def. Cvitanovic/Lang (GCU) – 6-2
 
Singles
Round of 16
Eddie Stoica (WSU) def. Stijn de Haan (NMSU) – 6-1-5-7, 7-5
Christofer Goncalves (NMSU) def. Greg Balenci (GCU) – 6-1, 6-1
Mauri Benitez (NMSU) def. Phillip Kuehmen (GCU) – 6-1, 6-7, 6-2
Sergi Espias (NMSU) def. Sebastian Eguez (NAU) – 6-4, 6-5
Luis Pliego Flores (NMSU) def. Vitor Mendez (WSU) – 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
Enrique Asmar (NMSU) – Bye
Eduardo Couto (MCC) def. Simon D'Alfonso (NMSU) – 6-3, 6-4
 
Round of 8
Christofer Goncalves (NMSU) def. David Hough (SDSU) – 6-2, 6-3
Mauri Benitez (NMSU) def. Raul De La Torre (SDSU) – 6-0, 6-4
Sergi Espias (NMSU) def. Francois Musitelli (GCU) – 7-5, 4-6, 6-1
Justin Cvitanovic (GCU) def. Luis Pliego Flores (NMSU) – 6-4, 6-2