Cats Move to 3-1 in SEC with Outdoor Win Over Auburn

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In a two-match home stand breaking up a span of six contests away from home, No. 44 Kentucky capped off a second straight victory with a 5-2 win over Auburn on Sunday afternoon.
 
After competing on the outdoor courts of Boone Tennis Center for only the second time in 2019, the Wildcats move to 9-7, 3-1 Southeastern Conference. Auburn drops to 11-10 (0-4 SEC).
 
“It’s a good start,” said senior co-captain Enzo Wallart of his team’s third conference win. “The chemistry was really good, everybody came together. We wanted to protect the house this weekend, and we achieved it.”
 
Kentucky began the afternoon facing a 1-0 deficit, dropping the doubles point in a match it would go on to win for the fourth time this season. Wallart was the first player to earn a singles point, defeating Filippo Mora 6-0, 6-1 on court two.
 
Parth Aggarwal picked up his second SEC victory on court six, beating Michael Durham 6-3, 6-0 and giving Kentucky its first lead of the match. However, Wallart’s co-captain Cesar Bourgois fell 6-4, 6-3 to the Tigers’ Brandon Laubser, evening things back up at 2-2.
 
Once No. 44 Ryo Matsumura, the only nationally ranked singles player participating in Sunday’s competition, finished off a 6-0, 6-4 triumph over Matteo DeVincentis on the top court, Kentucky would not concede another point.
 
Kevin Huempfner sealed the win for the Cats with a 6-3, 6-3 decision over Tim Dollman. Kento Yamada finished off the match officially with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Tad Mclean, moving Yamada to 13-1 on the season.
 
Kentucky will return to action next Saturday, traveling to Fayetteville, Ark. for a clash with the Razorbacks at 2 p.m. ET. The Cats defeated Arkansas 5-2 in Lexington last season.
 
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.
 
#44 Kentucky 5, Auburn 2
 
Singles

1. #44 Ryo Matsumura (UK) def. Matteo DeVincentis (AU) 6-0, 6-4
2. Enzo Wallart (UK) def. Filippo Mora (AU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Kento Yamada (UK) def. Tad Maclean (AU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Cesar Bourgois (UK) 6-4, 6-3
5. Kevin Huempfner (UK) def. Tim Dollman (AU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Parth Aggarwal (UK) def. Michael Durham (AU) 6-3, 6-0

 
Doubles

1. Brandon Laubser/Tad Maclean (AU) def. Cesar Bourgois/Enzo Wallart (UK) 6-4
2. Kento Yamada/Ryo Matsumura (UK) vs. Matteo DeVincentis/Filippo Mora (AU) 5-4, unfinished
3. Anders Fry/Diego Chavarria (AU) def. Kevin Huempfner/Fabian Penzkofer (UK) 6-3

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (2,6,4,1,5,3)