Daniel Bustamante Earns National Singles Ranking

TROY, Alabama – Troy men's tennis senior Daniel Bustamante earned the first national singles ranking of his career on Wednesday, debuting at No. 114 in the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Division I Men's Singles Rankings.

Bustamante, native of Bauru, Brazil, has moved to the top of the Troy singles lineup this season and is the only Sun Belt player in the rankings. He has won two matches against ranked opponents this spring, including a win over then-No. 23 Piotr Lomacki of Miami in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

The senior is fresh off of a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Alabama's Becker O'Shaughnessy, who was ranked No. 123 last weekend when Bustamante beat him but is now ranked No. 100 in the nation.

"I'm extremely excited for Daniel," Troy head coach Scott Kidd said. "Daniel has stepped up proudly to play at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions, which isn't an easy task. When I told him that he would play at the top he said, 'Coach I'll promise you one thing, I'll do my best.' I have never doubted that. He is showing the player that I knew he could be. I expect only great things from Daniel on and off the court."

Bustamante played the first seven matches of the season at the No. 1 spot in Troy's lineup before moving to No. 2 last weekend in matches at No. 56 Auburn and No. 63 Alabama. Eight of Troy's nine matches this season have come against ranked teams, and all nine have been played away from home.

Although he is only 2-5 this spring, all five of Bustamante's losses have come to ranked opponents, including a tough three-set loss last weekend to then-No. 96 Maxime Hinnisdaels of Auburn, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Bustamante and the Trojans return to the court on Friday when they travel to take on Winthrop at 1 p.m. CT. Troy will then face another ranked team on Saturday when they tackle a road match at No. 32 NC State at 1 p.m. CT.

Troy University Athletics

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Daniel Bustamante Earns National Singles Ranking

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