Georgia senior Austin Smith won his opening round match at the prestigious USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships Thursday at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. No. 17 Smith defeated UCLA’s No. 57 Martin Redlicki 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the round of 16 on Friday.

In doubles, No. 1-ranked Smith and Ben Wagland lost their round of 16 match to New Mexico’s No. 29 Hayden Sabatka and Bart Van Leijsen 6-4, 6-2. The Bulldog duo will play in the doubles consolation on Friday.

Smith registered his team-leading third singles win of the fall against a ranked opponent. He will take on Texas A&M’s fourth-seeded Arthur Rinderknechi on Friday, and the winner will play again later in the day in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile in Athens, six Georgia players will open play in the Bulldog Scramble. Action begins at 10 a.m., and the five other teams represented include Georgia Tech, Harvard, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Notre Dame. The ITA Hall of Fame will be open Friday and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Click here for updated draws at the National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships.