RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University men's tennis team suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to East Tennessee State to open the 2026 season on Tuesday night inside the Greg Adams Tennis Center.
 
EKU (0-1) won the doubles point and picked up two singles courts in the loss. The Colonels gained the first three points of the match but ended up allowing ETSU (1-0) to claim the final four.
 
Freshman Marek Nano won the first official match of his collegiate career defeating Martin Vergara 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a three-set thriller on court two. Senior Fernando Bulnes won his first match of the season defeating Peter Kalocsai 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in three sets on court three.
 
Five of the six singles matches were pushed to three sets, all being decided by just two games.
 
EKU returns to action on Wednesday facing Louisville in a doubleheader on the road. Match times are listed at noon and 5 p.m. ET.
 
Doubles
1. Oscar Martinez/Martin Vergara (ETSU) def. Nuno Pinheiro/Ilie Cazac (EKU) 7-5
2. Fernando Bulnes/Joao Barreto (EKU) def. Peter Kalocsai/Juan Listo (ETSU) 6-3
3. Adrian Contreras/Marek Nano (EKU) def. Arenui Luethi/James Sim (ETSU) 6-3
 
Order of Finish: 3,2,1
 
Singles
1. Oscar Martinez (ETSU) def. Nuno Pinheiro (EKU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
2. Marek Nano (EKU) def. Martin Vergara (ETSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Fernando Bulnes (EKU) def. Peter Kalocsai (ETSU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
4. Kai Cowcher (ETSU) def. Joao Barreto (EKU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
5. Arenui Luethi (ETSU) def. Adrian Contreras (EKU) 6-2, 7-5
6. Juan Listo (ETSU) def. Romeo Elfving Navarro (EKU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
 
Order of Finish: 2,3,1,4,5,6