Wildcats Begin ITA Kick-Off Weekend with 4-1 Win Over Penn State

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The undefeated Kentucky Wildcats (4-0) continued their hot start to the season with a 4-1 win over Penn State (0-1) in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend opener on Friday at Wake Forest Indoor Tennis Center.
 
With the win, the Wildcats advance to a matchup with host No. 7 Wake Forest (3-0) on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.
 
Kentucky began the afternoon with its fourth doubles point in as many matches behind a clutch performance by underclassmen Alexandre LeBlanc and Kevin Huempfner. After Gabriel Diallo and Millen Hurrion opened competition with a 6-1 decision over Gabriel Nemeth and Alp Sentay, Kentucky’s top pair of César Bourgois and Liam Draxl fell 6-4 to the nation’s 33^rd-ranked doubles team of Christos Antonopoulo and Christian Lakoseljac. LeBlanc and Huempfner rallied to a 7-5 victory over Charl Morgan and Ismail Saadi on court three, clinching a 1-0 lead for the Wildcats.
 
In singles play, Bourgois bounced back and claimed the first point of the day in two sets, defeating Antonopoulo 6-1, 6-4 in the third slot.
 
“It was a great team win for the boys,” said Bourgois. “We came out strong in doubles and did a good job in singles, as well. It puts us in a great position to play against a good Wake Forest team. We’ve worked hard for that and are ready to compete and give it our all tomorrow.”

After Penn State earned its lone point of the day on the second court, the 55^th-ranked LeBlanc gave Kentucky a 3-1 lead with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Nemeth. UK Junior Kento Yamada soon followed suit, clinching the match with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Chikaya Sato on court five.
 
Kentucky’s 2018-19 season ended on the road at the hands of eventual national runner-up Wake Forest in the second round of the NCAA Championship last May.
 
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s tennis team, follow @UKMensTennis on Twitter and Facebook, @kentuckymenstennis on Instagram, and follow along on the web at UKAthletics.com.
 
Kentucky 4, Penn State 1
 
Singles

1. Christian Lakoseljac (PSU) vs. Millen Hurrion (UK) 1-6, 6-3, 2-2, unfinished
2. Charl Morgan (PSU) def. Gabriel Diallo (UK) 6-3, 6-3
3. César Bourgois (UK) def. Christos Antonopoulo (PSU) 6-1, 6-4
4. #55 Alexandre LeBlanc (UK) def. Gabriel Nemeth (PSU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Kento Yamada (UK) def. Chikaya Sato (PSU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Ismail Saadi (PSU) vs. Kevin Huempfner (UK) 6-4, 3-6, unfinished

 
Doubles

1. #33 Christos Antonopoulo/Christian Lakoseljac (PSU) def. Liam Draxl/César Bourgois (UK) 6-4
2. Gabriel Diallo/Millen Hurrion (UK) def. Gabriel Nemeth/Alp Sentay (PSU) 6-1
3. Alexandre LeBlanc/Kevin Huempfner (UK) def. Charl Morgan/Ismail Saadi (PSU) 7-5

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