No. 11 Men’s Tennis Opens Season with Monday Doubleheader

LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 11 Kentucky men’s tennis begins its 2024 spring season with a doubleheader against in-state foes Northern Kentucky and EKU, Monday at the Boone Tennis Complex.

The action kicks off with the Wildcats taking on the Norse at 11 a.m. and continues with a 4 p.m. showdown against the Colonels. Admission is free for the public, with live streaming also available on Track Tennis.

UK is coming off its second-straight Elite Eight appearance in 2023 and enters the 2024 season having gone 53-13 over the past two years. The Cats’ preseason ranking marks the fifth-consecutive season in which head coach Cedric Kauffmann’s squad has appeared in the ITA preseason top-25.

Kentucky brings back several pieces from last year’s roster, led by 2023 All-SEC First Team selection, and SEC Tournament MVP, Joshua Lapadat. The senior owns a 64-12 singles record during his three years in Lexington and figures to make the jump to the top singles’ court for the Cats this season. Also back are fifth year Taha Baadi, an All-SEC Second Team honoree, and sophomore Jaden Weekes, an SEC All-Freshman Team member.

A trio of talented freshman join the fold for the Wildcats with Jack Loutit, Eli Stephenson and Matt Rankin set for their debut season in the Bluegrass.

Monday’s competition includes a Northern Kentucky team picked second in the Horizon League preseason poll. The Norse finished 2023 with a 12-11 record overall, and a 4-4 mark inside the conference. Also making the trip to Lexington are the EKU Colonels, who opened their season with an impressive, 4-3, victory over Xavier on Saturday. The side returns ASUN Third Team All-Conference selection Moritz Mayer and has added several transfers to the mix, including 2021 All-OVC Second Team member Evzen Holis from Tennessee Tech.

For the latest on UK Men’s Tennis, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.