Flushing, N.Y.—UCLA junior Mackenzie McDonald advances to the semifinals of the American Collegiate Invitational at the U.S. Open after downing Notre Dame's Quentin Monaghan in straight sets on Thursday. McDonald cruised past Monaghan, 6-1, 6-4, in the quarterfinal matchup.
“I thought it was a great first-round match,” said McDonald. “It's been a little more than two weeks since I played my last competitive match, so to go out and win in straights is always good. Being here last year definitely helped me.”
Second-seeded McDonald will face third-seeded Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (Virginia) on court six following the Wheelchair Quad Singles match and the remainder of the Women's Collegiate Invitational Quarterfinals match between recent UCLA grad Robin Anderson and Josie Kuhlman (Florida), which was suspended Thursday afternoon due to rain.
Also advancing to the semis on Friday is former Bruin Chanelle Van Nguyen, who defeated Florida's Brooke Austin in straight sets. Van Nguyen will play on court five against No. 3 seed Lauren Herring of Georgia.
Last season's Pac-12 Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year Dennis Mkrtchian fell to first-seeded Ryan Shane of Virginia, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.
“I'm taking the LSAT next month so I've been studying pretty hard for that,” said Mkrtchian. “I've never been a guy who has had to practice every day for hours and hours, but I thought I would do a little bit better today than I did.”
Day 1 Results of the American Collegiate Invitational
Men's First Round
Ryan Shane (No. 1 seed, Sr., Virginia; Falls Church, Va.,) def.
Dennis Mkrtchian, (graduate, UCLA; Reseda, Calif.), 6-2, 6-1
Mackenzie McDonald (Jr., UCLA; Piedmont, Calif.,) def.
Quentin Monaghan (Sr., Notre Dame, Chatham, N.J.) 6-1, 6-4
Women's First Round
Chanelle Van Nguyen (graduate, UCLA, Miami) def.
Brooke Austin (soph., Univ of Florida, Indianapolis), 7-5, 6-3
Robin Anderson (graduate, UCLA, Matawan, N.J.) leading Josie Kuhlman (soph., Univ of Florida, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.), 6-0, (susp. rain)