March 24, 2002
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The fourth-ranked University of Kentucky men’s tennis team endured a long battle in Southeastern Conference action with the No. 42 Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sunday, March 24 at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex. The 4-3 defeat leaves the Cats at 13-5 on the season and 4-2 in the SEC, while the Bulldogs stand at 8-6,2-4 SEC.
Kentucky took the doubles point with wins on the second and third courts. The Wildcat duo of Rahim Esmail and Jesse Witten continued their undefeated SEC season with an 8-4 win over Max Fomine and Aymeric Henou. The pairing of seniors Johan Grunditz and Gustav Pousette secured the early point and lead for the Cats.
The Cats built on the lead with the first two wins in singles action at No. 4 and No. 6. Pousette and Esmail took powerful straight set victories over the Bulldogs to extend their undefeated seasons. Pousette stands at 13-0, while Esmail is 17-0 in dual-match action.
The Bulldogs rallied back to take victories on the remaining four courts and to secure the 4-3 win. Fifth-ranked Witten suffered a straight set loss to No. 10 Romain Ambert, while Karim Benmansour, Evan Austin and Johan Grunditz all battled through three sets before falling to their opponent.
The Cats return to the courts next weekend continuing in SEC action when they host the No. 30 Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday, March 29 at 8 p.m. and the LSU Tigers on Sunday, March 31 at 2 p.m. Both matches will take place at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex on the UK campus. Admission is free.
AGATE:
Singles
No. 1#10 Romain Ambert (MSU) def. #5 Jesse Witten (UK)7-5, 6-3
No. 2#75 Rene-Charles Combette (MSU) def. #67 Karim Benmansour (UK)6-7(4), 7-6(4), 6-3
No. 3Luiz Carvalho (MSU) def. Evan Austin (UK)6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4
No. 4#94 Gustav Pousette (UK) def. Jerome LeBelicard (MSU)6-3,6-0
No. 5Aymeric Henou (MSU) def. #86 Johan Grunditz (UK)1-6,7-5,6-1
No. 6Rahim Esmail (UK) def. Max Fomine (MSU)6-3,6-2
Doubles
No. 1#18 Combette/Ambert (MSU) def. #47 Austin/Benmansour (UK)9-8 (10-8)
No. 2Esmail/Witten (UK) def. Fomine/Henou (MSU)8-4
No. 3Grunditz/Pousette (UK) def. Carvalho/LeBelicard (MSU)8-4
