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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Last week, the University of Iowa hosted its first United States Tennis Association ‘Futures’ circuit in nearly four decades. The Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex (HTRC) was the venue for the historic event that hosted nearly 100 amateur and professional tennis players from all over the globe.
Five current University of Iowa student-athletes competed unattached in both doubles and singles.
In the singles qualifying draw, former-Hawkeye Josh Silverstein won his first match against Benjamin VanDixhorn in straight sets, 7-6(6), 6-2. Silverstein fell in the second round against fourth-seeded Alafia Ayeni in straight sets. No. 12 seeded Matic Spec defeated Jason Kerst (USA), 6-1, 6-2.
In the main singles draw, Will Davies (United Kingdom) lost to third-seeded Collin Altamirano, 6-1, 6-2. Altamirano ultimately advanced to the semifinals. Joe Tyler (United Kingdom) fought hard but lost to No. 732 in the world Bernardo Saraiva, 6-4, 6-3. Strong Kircheimer, the No. 8 seed in the tournament, defeated Piotr Smietana (Poland) in the first round as well, 6-1, 6-0.
Kareem Allaf made his presence felt in the singles main draw. The native of Dubai came from behind to bounce, Martin Joyce, the No. 1111 ranked player in the world, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5). Allaf registered his second win of the tournament defeating No. 616 Kircheimer in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Allaf advanced all the way to the quarterfinals before Alamirano won, 6-4, 6-2.
In the doubles main draw, Allaf/Smietana fell to Cressy/Joyce in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. In other action, Atlamirano/Lebedev defeated Davies/Tyler, 6-3, 7-6(1). Kerst teamed up with Silverstein in the doubles bracket and drew the No. 3 seed Ayeni/Thomas and lost in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
Singles Qualifying Draw
(#1707) No. 12 seed Matic Spec def. Jason Kerst: 6-1, 6-2
Josh Silverstein def. Benjamin VanDixhorn: 7-6(6), 6-2
(#1296) No. 4 seed Alafia Ayeni def. Josh Silverstein: 6-0, 6-1
Singles Main Draw
(#490) No. 3 seed Collin Altamirano def. Will Davies: 6-1, 6-2
(#732) Bernardo Saraiva def. Joe Tyler: 6-4, 6-3
(#616) No. 8 seed Strong Kircheimer def. Piotr Smietana: 6-1, 6-0
Kareem Allaf def. (#1111) Martin Joyce: 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5)
Kareem Allaf def. (#616) No. 8 seed Strong Kircheimer: 6-3, 6-4 (Second Round)
(#3/#490) Collin Altamirano def. Kareem Allaf: 6-4, 6-2 (Quarterfinals)
Doubles Main Draw
(#2213) Maxime Cressy/Martin Joyce def. Kareem Allaf/Piotr Smietana: 6-3, 6-2
(#1886) Collin Altamirano/Alexander Lebedev def. Will Davies/Joe Tyler: 6-3, 7-6(6)
(#1584) No. 3 seed Alafia Ayeni/Danny Thomas def. Jason Kerst/Josh Silverstein: 6-1, 6-2
