College Tennis News - Tulsa’s Arnau Brugues Named ITA National Senior Player of the Year

Tulsa, Okla. – Tulsa senior Arnau Brugues was named the Farnsworth National Senior of the Year on Tuesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Brugues, the nation’s top-ranked singles player, also learned his first round opponent in the NCAA Men’s Tennis Singles Championships on Wednesday in College Station, Texas.

Brugues will face 56th-ranked Kiril Dimitrov of Duke in the opening round of the 64-player field at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center at Texas A&M University. The Barcelona, Spain, native enters the 64-player field as the No. 1 seed and is currently riding a 25-match winning streak dating back to January 15th.

The four-time All-American and four-time Conference USA Player of the Year has posted a 41-3 singles record this season, including a 26-3 mark against nationally-ranked opponents. He has also set the school record for most career singles wins with 113 and most single-season victories with 41 so far this season.

Dimitrov comes in with a 26-13 record on the season, including a 12-11 mark against ranked opposition. Dimitrov played primarily No. 2 singles for the Duke Blue Devils who finished the season with a 16-9 record, and a second round exit in the NCAA tournament at the hands of 5th-ranked Tennessee.

Brugues and doubles partner Philip Stephens also learned their first round matchup in the doubles championships, as the nation’s 11th-ranked tandem faces 8th-ranked Omar Altmann and Bassam Beidas of Pepperdine on Thursday. Stephens and Brugues enter the round of 32 with a 17-7 record this season, including 10 wins over ranked opponents.