Azkara Wins in Norman, Advances to Round of 16

NORMAN, Okla. — Arda Azkara won again, his third straight singles win to advance into the Round of 16 at the Norman Open, a USTA M15 event.  He defeated Chad Kissell of the United States 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) to advance.  Kissell is a former Horizon League Freshman of the Year who played at Valpo and is a current assistant coach with Wichita State.

Azkara will play former N.C. State star Robin Catry of France on Thursday.  Catry earned his spot by downing the No. 8 seed Derek Pham 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Azkara will also opened doubles play with Auburn’s Tyler Stice with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Jake Van Emburgh and Daniel Moreno. Van Emburgh played collegiately at Oklahoma while Moreno was at Loyola Marymount.  Azkara and Stice will play in the quarterfinals against Kissell, who he just played in singles, and Mykhallo Kvantallani.  Kvantallani was a top player at UTRGV the last two seasons.