No. 17 Kentucky Earns Road SEC Win Over No. 32 Arkansas, 4-1
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 17 Kentucky women’s tennis team earned a 4-1 win over Arkansas on Friday night at the Arkansas Tennis Center. UK has now won seven of its last eight matches.
The Wildcats improve to 10-3 and 2-1 in Southeastern Conference play while Arkansas falls to 5-6 and 1-2 in league play.
“Today was a step closer to our full group potential,” said Kentucky head coach Carlos Drada. “I am proud of our team’s effort today. They are special group of women who are having a special season. SEC wins on the road are always tough. Our players deserve all the credit.”
Kentucky went ahead early, picking up the doubles point in dramatic fashion. Junior Justina Mikulskyte and sophomore Diana Tkachenko gave an early advantage with a 6-2 win, but Arkansas punched back on the second court to tie the fight for the doubles point. Seniors Emily Fanning and Mami Adachi, ranked No. 40, took down No. 30 Ana Oparenovic and Tatum Rice, 7-5 to give UK a 1-0 lead.
Arkansas evened the score at 1-1 when freshman Brianna Tulloch fell to Agne Cepelyte, 6-3, 6-2.
Kentucky took the lead once again when Tkachenko beat Tatum Rice, 6-4, 6-3. Takchenko is currently on a seven-match winning streak and is 9-1 so far this season.
UK extended its lead to 3-1 when Emily Fanning earned her first ranked win of the season. Fanning defeated No. 87 Ana Oparenovic, 6-4, 6-3 on the second court. Fanning is 7-3 in dual play.
Lesedi Jacobs clinched a 4-1 win for Kentucky. After powering through a 7-6 (5) win in the first set, Jacobs breezed past Martina Zerulo in the second set 6-3 for her seventh dual match victory of the year.
The Wildcats will be back in action on Sunday when UK travels to Missouri. First serve is set for noon.
Agate
#17 Kentucky 4, #32 Arkansas 1
Fayetteville, Ark. – Arkansas Tennis Center
March 9, 2018
Singles (Order of Finish: 6-4-2-5)
1 – #66 Giulia Pairone (AR) vs. #122 Justina Mikulskyte (UK) 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, unfinished
2 – Emily Fanning (UK) def. #87 Ana Oparenovic (AR) 6-4, 6-3
3 – Mia Jurasic (AR) vs. Mami Adachi (UK) 6-3, 2-6, 1-2, unfinished
4 – Diana Tkachenko (UK) def. Tatum Rice (AR) 6-4, 6-3
5 – Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Martina Zerulo (AR) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
6 – Agne Cepelyte (AR) def. Brianna Tulloch (UK) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles (Order of Finish: 3-2-1)
1 – #40 Mami Adachi/Emily Fanning (UK) def. #30 Ana Oparenovic/Tatum Rice (AR) 7-5
2 – Giulia Pairone/Mia Jurasic (AR) def. Lesedi Jacobs/Brianna Tulloch (UK) 6-4
3 – Justina Mikulskyte/Diana Tkachenko (UK) def. Martina Zerulo/Natsuho Arakawa (AR) 6-2
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s tennis program, follow @UKWomensTennis on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/UKWomensTennis and on the web at UKathletics.com.
