Sophomore Yamada Collects Wildcats’ Only Singles Win
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – In its first true road match of the 2019 schedule, Kentucky dropped its dual Friday to Big Ten opponent No. 14 Illinois who formed a 4-1 final mark over the Wildcats.
The Fighting Illini clinched the doubles point to jump out with an early lead. Kentucky freshmen duo in Fabian Penzkofer and Kevin Huempfner dropped their doubles match on court three on a 6-0 outcome, but the upperclassmen likes of Cesar Bourgois and Enzo Wallart followed with a 6-2 decision to tie Illinois for the doubles point.
UK pair and faithful duo in sophomore Kento Yamada and senior Rya Matsumura attempted to settle the draw on court two, but the duo fell short of Illinois, 7-5.
Illinois played off its early momentum, collecting the first two singles wins. On court five, Theo McDonald took a 6-1, 7-5 defeat, followed by Kevin Huempfner on court six who incurred a 7-5, 6-4 loss, giving Illinois a quick 3-0 advantage.
Sophomore Kento Yamada rallied Kentucky’s only singles win to put the Wildcats on the board, recording a 6-4, 6-4 mark on court four. However, the Fighting Illini filed its third singles win minutes later to clinch the dual on a 4-1 finish.
Kentucky moves to a 4-4 record after opening the season with a pair of wins over IUPUI and Northern Kentucky.
The Kentucky men’s tennis program will resume action Sunday at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The club will compete in a doubleheader against Kennesaw State at noon and 4 p.m. It will be the Wildcats’ last home match before returning home March 8 for their conference home opener versus Alabama.
AGATE
Doubles (3, 1, 2)
1 – Bourgois-Wallart def. Brown-Chakravarthi 6-4
2 – Mayo-Kovacevic def. Yamada-Matsumura 7-5
3 – Budic-Clark def. Penzkofer-Huempfner 6-0
Singles (5, 6, 4, 3)
3 – Clark def. Bourgois 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
4 – Yamada def. Mayo 6-4, 6-4
5 – Chakravarthi def. McDonald 6-1, 7-5
6 – Khlif def. Huempfner 7-5, 6-4
For the latest on Kentucky men’s tennis, follow @UKMensTennis on Twitter and @KentuckyMensTennis on Instagram, and follow the team on the web at UKAthletics.com.
