Arseneault’s Heroic Comeback Leads Kentucky to Upset Win at No. 20 Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – An improbable comeback from Mikael Arseneault aided Kentucky (9-5, 2-2 SEC) to a 4-3 victory at No. 20 Oklahoma (10-4, 2-3 SEC) on Friday evening at the Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman. Arseneault’s victory, along with singles wins from Jaden Weekes, Eli Stephenson, and Charlelie Cosnet, helped Kentucky earn its first Southeastern Conference road victory since April 5, 2024.

Arseneault was trailing 6-4, 5-2 in his No. 6 singles match with the Wildcats desperate to find a fourth singles victory. The freshman from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada would then whittle off the final five games of the second frame, breaking Hank Trondson three times in a row to force a decider.

With the match tied at 3-3, both teams crowded around the No. 6 court to watch the only third set in the entire dual. After three holds to begin the frame, three consecutive breaks in the middle of the set would tell the take. Arseneault was able to claim two of them and, after letting his first lead in the set evaporate quickly, settled in to consolidate and eventually serve out.

The final game was not without its drama, as a let cord ace set up the first of three match points. An impressive get in the frontcourt from Trondson set up a lob winner to stave off the first match point. A double fault from Arseneault brought the game to a deciding point—match point No. 3 for Arseneault, break point to get back on serve for Trondson. A solid first serve and a clutch passing shot from Arseneault would prove the difference, as the freshman earned his team-leading third clinch of the season.

Arseneault’s comeback was nestled within a broader team comeback victory for the Wildcats, as Kentucky dropped the doubles point for the first time in ten matches. Martin Breysach and Charlelie Cosnet earned their fifth consecutive victory with a 6-1 win at No. 3, but neither No. 19 Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson nor Nicolas Arseneault and Jaden Weekes were able to finish off the opening point.

Needing four singles victories, the Cats jumped out to advantages on three of the six courts. Weekes, playing in his first SEC singles match of the season, showed no signs of rust on court No. 3. The senior from Montreal cruised through a 6-0, 6-3 win over Orel Kimhi to even the match at 1-1.

No. 24 Stephenson returned to winning ways with his tenth ranked victory of the season, breezing past No. 45 Luis Alvarez on court No. 1, 6-3, 6-2. The victory was the first conference win at the No. 1 position in his career.

Oklahoma would respond with their two singles victories to retake the lead at 3-2. Identical 6-4, 6-4 scorelines at No. 2 and No. 4 saw No. 108 Oscar Lacides defeat No. 102 Nicolas Arseneault and Johan Rodriguez defeat No. 38 Jack Loutit in tight, straight-sets decisions.

A brilliant first set comeback from No. 77 Cosnet morphed into a comfortable victory over No. 109 Asahi Harazaki at court No. 5. Trailing by a break early in the set, Cosnet rallied to force a tiebreaker. Once again trailing, this time by a mini-break, the senior rattled off the final four points of the breaker to seize the advantage. Cosnet would then storm to a 5-1 lead and serve out the match on his second try to seal the 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory and allow Arseneault to seal the deal at No. 6.

Kentucky will wrap up its first SEC road trip of the season at Arkansas on Sunday, March 8, dueling the Razorbacks at 1 p.m. ET.

For the latest on UK Men’s Tennis, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.

Kentucky vs. No. 20 Oklahoma

Doubles Results

1. No. 53 Alvarez/Nhavene (OU) def. No. 19 Stephenson/Loutit (UK) 6-3
2. Trondson/Melero (OU) def. N. Arseneault/Weekes (UK) 6-2
3. Breysach/Cosnet (UK) def. Harazaki/Lacides (OU) 6-1

Order of finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles Results

1. No. 24 Eli Stephenson (UK) def. No. 45 Luis Alvarez (OU) 6-3, 6-2
2. No. 108 Oscar Lacides (OU) def. No. 102 Nicolas Arseneault (UK) 6-4, 6-4
3. Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Orel Kimhi (OU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Johan Rodriguez (OU) def. No. 38 Jack Loutit (UK) 6-4, 6-4
5. No. 77 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. No. 109 Asahi Harazaki (OU) 7-6 (5), 6-3
6. Mikael Arseneault (UK) def. Hank Trondson (OU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6