Matsumura Completes Storied UK Career in NCAA Tournament
ORLANDO, Fla. – Kentucky senior Ryo Matsumura wrapped up his prolific collegiate career with a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Illinois’ Alex Brown on Monday in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Singles Championship.
Matsumura was the lone Wildcat whose season extended past the squad’s second-round loss to eventual national runner-up Wake Forest in the team tournament on May 4, making his fourth consecutive appearance in the singles competition. He was one of 14 players from the Southeastern Conference to qualify.
Matsumura finishes the 2019 season with a singles record of 16-10, halting a seven-match winning streak. In four years of spring dual matches, the Fukui, Japan, native accumulated 62 wins, including those over one-time nationally top-ranked players Mikael Torpegaard of Ohio State and Nuno Borges of Mississippi State. He entered Monday with a No. 42 placement in the ITA Division I Men’s Singles Rankings, where his career peaked at No. 8.
After committing to Kentucky as the second-highest-ranked recruit in program history, Matsumura earned ITA All-America, two first-team All-SEC, two second-team All-SEC, SEC Co-Freshman of the Year, ITA Ohio Valley Region Rookie of the Year, SEC Player of the Week and two SEC Freshman of the Week honors while donning the blue and white. He was one of two seniors to lead the Cats this season.
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