Lakat Makes Cal Debut at Battle in the Bay

Battle ITB Scores

SAN FRANCISCO – After playing his first two years of college tennis in Starkville, Mississippi, Florian Lakat opened the 2015-16 season roughly 2,250 miles away with the California Golden Bears. A transfer from Mississippi State, Lakat played in singles and doubles on the opening day of men's action at the Battle in the Bay Classic at the California Tennis Club.

First he paired with fellow junior Andre Goransson in doubles, with the Bears getting a bye in the round of 32. The second seed in the tournament, ranked 25th nationally, the Cal duo fended off David Hsu and Anthony Tsodikov of Stanford, 7-5, in the round of 16. The Bears next take on Boise State's Toby Mitchell and Kyle Butters in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 8 a.m.

The third-seeded pair of junior Filip Bergevi and senior Oskar Wikberg likewise had a bye in the doubles round of 32. The Bears then took on USF's Thomas Takemoto and Nils Skajaa but lost in an upset, 7-5. In the round of 32, Cal sophomore Billy Griffith paired with USC's Kalman Boyd, but the duo fell to Pepperdine's Pedro Iamachkine and Lautaro Pane, 7-6(2).

In the singles round of 32, the top-seeded and 22nd-ranked Goransson won in straight sets over Pepperdine's Stefan Menichella, 6-2, 7-5. Bergevi – seeded fifth and ranked 64th – beat Boise State's Mitchell, 6-1, 6-1, and Lakat – ranked 36th and seeded third – joined his two teammates in the round of 16 by beating Pepperdine's Tom Hill, 6-3, 6-4.

Griffith played his doubles partner, Boyd, in singles, and took the first set. But Griffith lost the match, 0-6, 6-1, 6-4. Wikberg played a tight match against Michigan's Carter Lin, with the Wolverine prevailing after two tiebreakers, 7-6(6), 7-6(5).

On Saturday, Goransson battles Cal Poly's Garrett Auproux and Bergevi faces USC's Tanner Smith; both matches will start at 10 a.m. Lakat plays USC's Jake DeVine at 11 a.m.

“The boys had a good experience at the Battle in the Bay today,” Cal associate head coach Tyler Browne said. “Each guy is working on his individual process to be successful on the court. We were particularly impressed with Florian's game. He has a big serve and forehand that he uses to put constant pressure on his opponents. We're looking forward to him having an immediate impact in singles and doubles.”

Battle in the Bay Classic

Sept. 18, 2015, in San Francisco, Calif.

California Tennis Club

Singles Round of32

[1] No. 22 Andre Goransson (Cal) def. Stefan Menichella (Pepperdine) – 6-2, 7-5

[5] No. 64 Filip Bergevi (Cal) def. Toby Mitchell (Boise State) – 6-1, 6-1

Carter Lin (Michigan) def. Oskar Wikberg (Cal) – 7-6(6), 7-6(5)

[3] No. 36 Florian Lakat (Cal) def. Tom Hill (Pepperdine) – 6-3, 6-4

[8] Kalman Boyd (USC) def. Billy Griffith (Cal) – 0-6, 6-1, 6-4

Doubles Round of 32

Pedro Iamachkine/Lautaro Pane (Pepperdine) def. Billy Griffith (Cal)/Kalman Boyd (USC) – 7-6(2)

[2] No. 25 Andre Goransson/Florian Lakat (Cal) (bye)