Oct. 17, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Members of the Maryland men's tennis team begin play at the 2008 Wilson ITA Mideast Regional Championship Friday, in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Terrapins are represented by senior Nickolai Nielsen, junior David Kwon and freshman Mattias Sarrazin.

Nielsen, who finished last season by winning four-straight singles matches against ACC opponents, plays Charles Bottoni of Eastern Tennessee State University, with the winner advancing to play Clay Donato of UNC, the No. 15 seed.

Sarrazin, a native of Paris, France, will play Kevin Fleck of Clemson in the opening round, for the opportunity to play No. 17-seeded Maciek Sykut of FSU in the round of 64.

Kwon may have the toughest road ahead of him, as he opens the tournament against Luka Somen of Virginia Tech, with the No. 2 seed, Wake Forest's Cory Parr, waiting to face the winner.

In doubles action, Nielsen and Kwon will team up to take on freshmen Brennan Boyajian and Zach Hunter of North Carolina.

Last year, Nielsen won his first two singles matches in the Wilson ITA Mideast Regional Championship, before falling in three sets to Carlos Alvarez, who is currently ranked No. 77 at singles.

Nielsen also competed in doubles at last year's tournament, with Michael Coleman, who has since graduated, as his partner. The pair won their first two matches, advancing to the round of 32 before falling to North Carolina State's Derek Stephens and Christian Welte.

Play at the 2008 Wilson ITA Mideast Regional Championship continues through the weekend, with the finals set for Monday.