FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Swarthmore College men's tennis team began play at the ITA Regional Tournament on Thursday hosted by the University of Mary Washington.
 
Max Lindstrom, Kai Chen, and Michael Melnikov all won their opening matches in championship singles, advancing to the Round of 32. Lalith Suresh and Dylan Hayes Gilbert both suffered tough defeats and will aim to bounce back in the consolation bracket.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Lindstrom took on Stevens Institute of Technology in the first round and came away with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph. The senior, seeded fifth, will battle Dickinson College in his next match.
 
- Chen made quick work of his opponent from Washington College, rolling to a 6-1, 6-1 victory. He will battle the ninth seed from Carnegie Mellon University in the second round.
 
- Melnikov, the second seed in the bracket, was pushed to the brink in his opening match by Johns Hopkins University but persevered for a 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (10-5) win. He became the Garnet's all-time leader in singles victories with the triumph. Melnikov's 71 career singles wins surpasses Steve Brown, who set the mark in 1984. The senior will take on Catholic University in the Round of 32.
 
- Suresh took the opening set of his match against Franklin and Marshall College, 6-1, before dropping the second, 5-7. The senior came up just short in a super set tiebreak, 8-10. Suresh will begin consolation play versus Muhlenberg College.
 
-  Gilbert also went the distance in his opening bout versus Christopher Newport University. The sophomore took the first set in a tiebreak, 7-6 (7-3), before falling the second frame, 2-6. Gilbert battled in the super set tiebreak but ultimately was dealt an 8-10 defeat. He will take on Mary Washington in his first consolation match.
 
UP NEXT
The tournament continues on Friday.