TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?The No. 63 University of Kentucky men?s tennis team came up short on its third conference road match of the season. The Cats (6-9, 1-4) fell to the No. 23 Crimson Tide (14-5, 4-1) of Alabama 5-2 Friday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
At No. 2 doubles, junior Bruno Agostinelli and freshman Brad Cox defeated Alabama?s Javier Bes and Sammy Struyf 8-5. Earlier junior Shane Collins and freshman Will Beck fell 8-4 to the Crimson Tide?s Andrew Felsenthal and Saketh Myneni, leaving the doubles point in the hands of UK?s senior tandem Marcus Sundh and Will Ward. The Cats had their hands full against No. 12 Daniel Buikema and Mathieu Thibaudeau at No. 1 singles and could not overcome the Alabama duo, losing 8-4 thus clinching the doubles point for the Tide.
No. 48 Agostinelli won a three-set thriller over No. 85 Saketh Myneni at the number one singles slot. The junior won the first set 6-4 but Myneni came back to take the second 6-3. In the decisive set Agostinelli finished off Myneni 6-4 to clinch a point for the Cats. The victory is his second of the season over a ranked player. Agostinelli defeated Virginia?s Treat Huey then ranked No. 12 last month.
UK team captain Sundh provided Kentucky with its other point on the day, also in three sets. Playing at No. 4 singles, the senior made quick work of Buikema in the first set winning 6-1. But Sundh could not fend off the determined opponent with the Crimson Tide taking set two 7-6 in a tiebreak. The UK veteran recovered to claim victory 6-3 in the final stanza.
At No. 6 singles, freshman Alberto Gonzalez took the first set from Alabama?s Michael Jung but could not hold on, falling 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 in a third-set tiebreak. Classmates Cox and Beck both forced extra games in sets during their matches at Nos. 4 and 5 singles, respectively, but could not come up with a set win against the Tide. Ward lost by default to Thibaudeau at No. 2 singles.
Sunday, the Cats return home to host the No. 22 Auburn Tigers at Boone Tennis Complex with first serve at 1:00 p.m. ET.
#23 Alabama 5, #63 Kentucky 2
Singles
1. #48 Bruno Agostinelli (UK) def. #85 Saketh Myneni (UA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
2. #88 Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. Will Ward (UK) 3-2 default
3. Sammy Struyf, (UA) def. Brad Cox (UK) 6-2, 7-6
4. Marcus Sundh (UK) led Daniel Buikema (UA) 6-1, 6-7, 6-3
5. Javier Bes (UA) def. Will Beck (UK) 7-5, 6-2
6. Michael Jung (UA) def. Alberto Gonzalez (UK) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0
Doubles
1. #12 Daniel Buikema/Mathieu Thibaudeau (UA) def. Will Ward/Marcus Sundh (UK) 8-4
2. Bruno Agostinelli/Brad Cox (UK) def. Javier Bes/Sammy Struyf (UA) 8-5
3. Andrew Felsenthal/Saketh Myneni (UA) def. Will Beck/Shane Collins (UK) 8-4
