Buccaneer alum looks to make a run in Paris

PARIS, France (May 29, 2023) – ETSU men’s tennis alum Sander Gille is back at Roland Garros.

Gille, the 2010 ASUN Player of the Year, is making his fourth career appearance at the French Open as he and teammate Joran Vliegen begin doubles play on Tuesday in Paris. The Belgian duo will take on the Croatian duo of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic – the No. 8 seed in the tournament – on Court 11 Tuesday morning at 8:15 a.m. ET.

This marks the fourth straight year Gille and Vliegen are playing the French Open as they have reached the third round in each of the last two years. Last year, the duo took down defending champions Pierre-Hugues and Nicolas Mahut in the first round.

Gille, who is ranked No. 41 in ATP Doubles, is coming off a championship run with Vliegen in the 2023 Estoril Open back in April. The duo were the No. 4 seed in the tournament and rattled off four wins to claim the title.

Mektic and Pavic are the reigning gold medalists at the 2020 Olympics. Pavic is No. 13 in the ATP Doubles Rankings and Mektic is No. 15. Gille made his Olympic debut with Vliegen in the 2020 Olympics.

The winner of Tuesday’s match will take on the winner of Emil Ruusuvuori/Patrik Niklas-Salminen (Finland)-Quentin Halys/Gregoire Barrere (France).

Gille helped guide ETSU to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2009-12 and was a three-time first team all-ASUN selection. Gille was named ASUN Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in 2010. Gille finished his collegiate career with 72 wins in the Blue & Gold.

For more information on the 2023 French Open, please click here.