TULSA, Okla. – Auburn men’s tennis finished play at the ITA All-American Championships on Thursday evening. The Tigers doubles team of Billy Blaydes and Freddy Blaydes reached the second round of the doubles main draw before bowing out on Thursday.
On Saturday, Nichoals Heng earned a straight set victory over Teddy Truwit of Duke in the opening round of singles prequalifying and followed that with a 7-6 (2), 6-2 win over Gabriel Elicha Navas of Arkansas in the second round before being defeated in the third round.
After suffering a loss in the first round of the qualifying singles stage to No. 66 Matthew Forbes, Auburn senior Billy Blaydes bounced back with a three-set victory over No. 122 Tiago Pires of Texas A&M for his first singles win of the 2025-26 campaign.
Blaydes and his brother, Freddy, took down Baylor’s Zsombor Velcz and Connor Henry Van Schalkwyk, the No. 28 doubles team in the nation, in a thrilling three-set match 4-6, 7-6 (5), [10-7] in the opening round of the doubles main draw on Wednesday. The Auburn pair was defeated by No. 33 Tanapatt Nirundorn and Henry Jefferson of Florida to end their run at the championship on Thursday.
Auburn players will again have the opportunity to earn bids to the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships at the ITA Southern Regional Championships and the ITA South Sectional Championships later in the fall.
Up next, Auburn will host The Battle on The Plains Oct. 3-5 at Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, Alabama. The miniature dual formatted tournament will be free admission to the public.
Saturday Results:
Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Teddy Truwit (DUKE) 6-3, 7-5
Aleksa Pisaric (PEPP) def. Freddy Blaydes (AUB) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Chris Xu (UNC) def. Joey Phillips (AUB) 6-2, 6-2
Nicholas Heng/Joey Phillips (AUB) def. Ian Bracks/Thomas Nicholas Gadecki (OKST) 3-6, 7-6 (5), [10-8]
Sunday Results:
Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Gabriel Elicha Navas (ARK) 7-6 (2), 6-2
Evan Burnett (TEX) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB) 7-6 (5), 6-1
Reiya Komagata (TUL) def. Freddy Blaydes (AUB) 6-3, 6-2
Michael Andre/Sam Landau (IU) def. Nichoals Heng/Joey Phillips (AUB) 7-6 (5), 6-3
Monday Results:
#66 Matthew Forbes (MSU) def. Billy Blaydes (AUB) 6-2, 6-2
Tuesday Results:
Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. #122 Tiago Pires (TAMU) 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-3
Wednesday Results:
#20 Billy Blaydes/Freddy Blaydes (AUB) def. #28 Zsombor Velcz/Connor Henry Van Schalkwyk (BAY) 4-6, 7-6 (5), [10-7]
Thursday Results:
#33 Tanapatt Nirundorn/Henry Jefferson (UF) def. #20 Billy Blaydes/Freddy Blaydes (AUB) 6-2, 6-2