Oct. 31, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –
Kentucky men’s tennis sophomore Alex Musialek advanced to the final of the Crimson Tide Fall Championships by defeating the nation’s second-ranked player, J.P. Smith of Tennessee, 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 at the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Competing in just his second fall tournament, Musialek will battle another SEC foe, Charlie Jones of Vanderbilt in the final Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Musialek forced a tiebreaker with Smith in the first set. The Wildcat came through with a win in the breaker to take the first stanza 7-6. Smith, a 2008 NCAA Singles Finalist, gained control of the second set, topping Musialek 6-2 to force a deciding set. The third also went the distance with the SEC foes battling to another set tiebreaker. Again it was Musialek who came through in the clutch with a 7-6 victory
“This is a breakthrough win for Alex,” said UK men’s tennis head coach Dennis Emery. “He obviously played a great match against one of the hottest players in the country. Alex played the big points very well today. Now he needs to follow it up tomorrow with another great performance.”
The Dax, France, native advanced to the semifinal with a second-round win over Danny Manlow of UAB 6-4, 6-3. In the first round, Musialek defeated Leon Nasserman of Memphis 6-1, 6-2.
UK senior Alex Lambopoulos beat Michael Janz of Memphis 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 in a first-round match. In a second round contest, Lambropoulos lost 6-4 3-6, 7-5, to Vanderbilt’s Alex Zotov.
Wildcat sophomore Chris Leeper lost a first round match 6-1, 6-0 to Tommy Petrich of UAB. In a first-round consolation match Leeper came up short against Jeremy Tardiff of Gardner-Webb 6-2, 6-4.
In doubles action, Leeper and Lambropoulos fell 8-3 to Brewer and Taylor Patrick of Tennessee.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for all of the latest Kentucky men’s tennis news.
October 31, 2009
Tuscaloosa, Ala. (UA Tennis Center)
Crimson Tide Fall Championships
Main Draw Singles – Semifinal
Alex Musialek (UK) def. #2 J.P. Smith (UT) 7-6, 2-6, 7-6
Main Draw Singles – Second Round
Alex Musialek (UK) def. Danny Manlow (UAB) 6-4, 6-3
Alex Zotov (VU) def. Alex Lambropoulos (UK) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
Main Draw Singles – First Round
Alex Musialek (UK) def. Leon Nasserman (UM) 6-1, 6-2
Alex Lambropoulos (UK) def. Michael Janz (UM) 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-3
Tommy Petrich (UAB) def. Chris Leeper (UK) 6-1, 6-0
Consolation Draw Singles – First Round
Jeremy Tardiff (UK) def. Chris Leeper (UK) 6-2, 6-4
Main Draw Doubles
Matt Brewer / Taylor Patrick (UT) def. Alex Lambropoulos / Chris Leeper (UK) 8-3
