TULSA, Okla. – California's J.T. Nishimura and Billy Griffith opened with wins in the Saint Francis Health System All-American Championships qualifying tournaments on Monday at the University of Tulsa.
 
Nishimura defeated Oklahoma State's Maxim Tybar, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round. If the Golden Bear wins twice more in qualifying on Tuesday, he would join fellow senior Griffith in main draw singles, which begin on Thursday.
 
Later on Monday, Griffith and Nishimura played a couple more Cowboys in Brady Draheim and Jurence Mendoza. The 39th-ranked Cal pair bested the Oklahoma State duo 6-3, 6-2, in the opening round of 64. The Bears then knocked off Texas Tech's Connor Curry and Artem Kapshu, 6-2, 6-0. A win in Tuesday's third round would qualify Griffith and Nishimura for main draw doubles, which also being Thursday.
 
On Tuesday, Nishimura will play Louisville's 13th-seeded and 74th-ranked Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff in the qualifying singles second round, while Griffith and Nishimura will take on a team TBD in the final round of qualifying doubles.
 
Saint Francis Health System All-American Championships
Oct. 2, 2017, in Tulsa, Okla.
Michael D. Case Tennis Center
 
Qualifying Singles First Round
J.T. Nishimura (Cal) def. Maxim Tybar (Ok. St.), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
 
Qualifying Doubles First Round
[7] No. 39 Billy Griffith/J.T. Nishimura (Cal) def. Brady Draheim/Jurence Mendoza (Ok. St.), 6-3, 6-2
 
Qualifying Doubles Second Round
[7] No. 39 Billy Griffith/J.T. Nishimura (Cal) def. Connor Curry/Artem Kapshuk (Texas Tech), 6-2, 6-0