In just his second week of collegiate competition, freshman Alex Clayton is already making headlines for the Stanford men’s tennis team. Clayton, one of the top players in the nation in his age group and a competitor for the team’s No. 1 spot this year, won his opening match yesterday at the ITA All-American Championships.

Clayton, along with sophomore Richard Wire and junior Blake Muller, is in a qualifying bracket to make it into the main draw. Clayton beat tenth-seeded Kiril Dimitrov of Duke 6-3, 6-3 to advance. He will face Max Jones of New Mexico today, also a straight-sets winner yesterday.

Clayton’s teammates were not so fortunate, as both Wire and Muller fell in their first-round matches. Wire, the top seed in the qualifying bracket, lost to Sam Chang of Florida State. Wire won the first set 6-4, but could not sustain the lead and lost the next two sets 6-2, 6-2. Muller dropped his match to Olivier Sajous of Florida Atlantic by scores of 6-0, 6-3.

However, the tournament is not over for Wire nor Muller. Muller will team with junior Matt Bruch in the main doubles draw. The duo is currently the No. 2 ranked doubles team in the nation. Bruch will also play in the main singles draw.

Wire and Clayton will play doubles today in the qualifying draw, as they hope to join Bruch and Muller in the main draw.

The ITA All-American Championships are being held in Tulsa, Okla. at the Tulsa Tennis Center.