March 23, 2002

WACO, Tex. – The University of Kentucky men’s tennis team, who climbed to No. 4 in the Omni Hotel Collegiate Tennis Rankings on Mar. 20, suffered the fourth loss of the season to No. 16 Baylor on Friday, March 22. The 4-3 upset snaps the Cats five match winning streak and brings them to 13-4 on the season.

After dropping doubles matches at No. 2 and No. 3, action was suspended on the first court to give the Bears the early lead over the Cats.

In singles, Kentucky’s Gustav Pousette and Rahim Esmail continued their undefeated season with straight set victories at No. 4 and No. 6 to tally two UK points. Karim Benmansour overwhelmed Baylor’s No. 38 Zoltan Papp on the second court in three long sets to round out UK’s score. Kentucky’s No. 5 Jesse Witten suffered his fourth season loss on the first court to No. 7 Benjamin Becker, while Evan Austin and Matt Emery dropped matches at No. 3 and No. 5.

The Wildcats look to find its way back on the winning track when they play host to No. 42 Mississippi State University in Southeastern Conference action on Sunday, March 24. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m. in the friendly confines of the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex on the UK campus.

AGATE:
Singles
No. 1#7 Benjamin Becker (BU) def. #5 Jesse Witten (UK)7-5,6-4
No. 2#67 Karim Benmansour (UK) def. #38 Zoltan Papp (BU)3-6,7-6(7-4),6-3
No. 3#74 Markus Hornung (BU) def. #123 Evan Austin (UK)6-2,6-2
No. 4#94 Gustav Pousette (UK) def. Matias Marin (BU)6-2,6-4
No. 5#120 Reiner Neurohr (BU) def. Matt Emery (UK)7-6 (7-4),7-5
No. 6Rahim Esmail (UK) def. Armando Carrascosa (BU)6-3,6-3
Doubles
No. 1Austin/Benmansour (UK) vs. Hornung/McGregor (BU)DNF
No. 2Papp/Becker (BU) def. Pousette/Emery (UK)8-5
N0. 3Neurohr/Marin (BU) def. Esmail/Witten (UK)8-6