7 Flames Set to Take the Court at ITA All-American Championships
9/30/2021 12:02:25 PM | Men's Tennis
Liberty will send seven of its eight players to the ITA Men’s All-American Championships, which will begin on Saturday.
The nine-day event will be held at Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center and the Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park in Tulsa, Okla.
Pre-qualifying matches will take place on Saturday and Sunday. The qualifying rounds will take place on Monday and Tuesday, followed by main draw play from Oct. 6-10.
This is Liberty’s third fall tournament after playing at last weekend’s Elon Fall Invitational and the season-opening Duke James Bonk Invite (Sept. 18-19). The Flames last competed at the ITA All-American Championships during the fall 2019 campaign. Current Flames Josh Wilson and Goncalo Ferreira, along with former Flame Chase Burton, took part in the event two seasons ago.
Event/Days/Location: ITA All-American Championships | Oct. 2-10 | Michael D. Case Tennis Center and the Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park | Tulsa, Okla.
Liberty Flames Players Participating: Rafael Marques Da Silva, Josh Wilson, Deji Thomas-Smith, Thando Longwe-Smit, Goncalo Ferreira, Zion Heaven, Omar El Kadi
Schedule
Oct. 2-3
Pre-Qualifying
Josh Wilson, Deji Thomas-Smith, Thando Longwe-Smit, Goncalo Ferreira, Zion Heaven and Omar El Kadi will also play in pre-qualifying singles.
Oct. 4-5
Qualifying
Rafael Marques Da Silva will get his tournament started in qualifying. Marques Da Silva and Deji Thomas-Smith will also compete in qualifying doubles.
Oct. 6-10
Main Draw
Tournament Breakdown:
Thando Longwe-Smit and Zion Heaven will be making their 2021-22 season debuts. Rafael Marques Da Silva, Josh Wilson, Deji Thomas-Smith, Goncalo Ferreira and Omar El Kadi are each appearing in their second fall tournament of the year.
Marques Da Silva is the lone Flame who will start in qualifying, Monday and Tuesday. The other six Liberty players will compete in pre-qualifying beginning on Saturday. Marques Da Silva and Deji Thomas-Smith will be paired together in doubles and start qualifying on Monday. There is no doubles pre-qualifying.
