SIU men’s tennis opened the season with two doubles champions and all athletes, singles or doubles, finishing with a winning record at the Purdue Invitational. 

Senior Jonny Rigby and junior Michal Kianicka moved to No. 2 on SIU’s all-time doubles win list with 35 wins. The duo won two matches on Friday and Saturday and won their flight.

They need 10 wins to tie the all-time record set by Fabiano Ramos and Mickey Maule in 1989.

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The No. 2 team of junior Wilder Pimentel and sophomore Alex Pozo won Flight B and the No. 3 team of sophomores Peter Molloy and Daniel Martinez finished second in flight C. 

Kianicka won the singles Flight A bracket against freshman Jordan Benjamin of Dayton (7-5, 7-6 (2)) — who beat Rigby in the semifinals (6-4, 6-4). 

“I played good tennis the whole tournament and it feels like a big satisfaction,” Kianicka said in an interview with Saluki Athletics. “I felt I was in good shape and was pretty confident going to this tournament. With the amazing support of my teammates it all clicked together.”

Kianicka finished 8-0 in the tournament with singles and doubles matches. 

Pozo qualified for the Flight C finals before losing to freshman Vince Anzalone from Toldeo (0-6, 6-3, 6-4). Pozo finished 3-1 in the tournament. 

Pimentel and freshman Thomas Kyle both made their debuts, both finishing 2-1 in the tournament. Pimentel qualified for the semi-finals in Flight C. 

“This is a great start to the new fall season and we are looking forward to the next tournament,” coach Dann Nelson said in an interview with Saluki Athletics. 

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Evan Jones can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @EvanJones_DE.