Antoine Ghibaudo Named ITA’s Top Newcomer, Three Wildcats Earn Preseason Rankings
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three Wildcats were ranked in the initial installment of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) individual rankings for the 2024-25 season, highlighted by freshman Antoine Ghibaudo’s placement as the No. 1 singles player in the Newcomer Rankings. Ghibaudo was also Kentucky’s highest ranked player on the overall singles listing, checking in at No. 67. Joining the French freshman in the ITA Fall Preseason Singles Rankings are Jack Loutit and Charlelie Cosnet, coming in at No. 77 and No. 83 respectively. In doubles, the Wildcats had one ranked pair, with Ghibaudo and Cosnet checking in at No. 69.
Ghibaudo, a 19-year-old from Paris, France, comes to Kentucky with a career-high ATP ranking of No. 667, making him the highest-ranked incoming freshman on the tour’s ranking. He also boasts a career-high ITF junior ranking of No. 14 and an impressive World Tennis Number (WTN) of 3.5. Ghibaudo has played in the Junior Championships at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon. The Frenchman has also represented his country at the Junior Davis Cup Finals.
Loutit, a sophomore from Auckland, New Zealand, finished his first campaign with the Blue and White with a 27-9 record in singles, earning him a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. The No. 77 preseason ranking is his first career ranking from the ITA. Primarily playing at No. 5 singles, Loutit earned one ranked win in 2023, defeating No. 99 Tanapatt Nirundorn of Florida in straight sets. Loutit also delivered the clinching victory in Kentucky’s 4-3 win over No. 6 Tennessee last season, securing the Wildcats’ undefeated regular season in SEC play.
Cosnet, a junior from Le Mans, France, is slotted at No. 83 in the fall singles rankings after an impressive 2023 season that saw the Frenchman win 21 matches in the spring season, a team high, on his way to SEC Tournament MVP honors and a spot on the All-SEC second team. This is Cosnet’s first singles ranking since 2022, where he peaked at No. 57. Cosnet is also featured on the preseason doubles rankings alongside his compatriot Ghibaudo.
The Wildcats will kick off their Fall 2024 schedule of individual tournament next month, with a full schedule to be announced at a future date. New to the 2024-2025 season is the movement of the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships to the fall season, as opposed to the tournament’s traditional slot following the conclusion of the team championships in May. Players will compete for qualification spots at tournaments around the country during the fall, culminating in Waco, Texas from November 19-24.
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