Kentucky Completes Weekend Sweep, Downs Auburn, 4-0

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 5 Kentucky (16-2, 7-0 SEC) men’s tennis team concluded its top-25 weekend with a win against No. 21 Auburn Tigers (13-7, 4-3 SEC) on Sunday at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex, 4-0. The Wildcats remain undefeated in conference play, and have won nine consecutive matches. UK has now won the last 15 matchups against the Tigers dating back to the 2011-12 season. 

Doubles play started intensely, with both teams having the opportunity to play from behind on each court. With courts one and two tied 5-5, and court three tied 6-6, the Kentucky pair of Jack Loutit and Taha Baadi was first to victory, winning 7-5 at second doubles. After the Tiger duo of Will Nolan and Tyler Stice claimed court three to level the dual, No. 23 Joshua Lapadat and JJ Mercer earned the Wildcats the doubles point, winning in a 7-6 (7-3) tiebreak at first doubles. Both UK doubles pairs went undefeated over the weekend, notching two wins apiece. 

Maintaining the momentum from the doubles session, the Cats claimed the first set on four of the six courts. No. 36 fifth-year Baadi was first to add a singles point, defeating No. 43 Tyler Stice of Auburn, 6-1, 6-2. This win marks Baadi’s seventh ranked win of the season. To put the Wildcats up 3-0, freshman Jack Loutit claimed a victory on court five, defeating the defending SEC Co-Freshman of the Week Nicholas Heng 6-1, 6-1 in straight sets, ending his five-match win streak. 

Searching for the final singles point to clinch the match, sophomore Jaden Weekes came back from a 3-1 first set deficit, winning the remaining games to claim the set 6-3, before flying through the second set 6-1, and ultimately winning the match for the Cats with his seventh consecutive singles win. 

With the victory clinched for Kentucky, the remaining three singles matches went unfinished. 

Kentucky will travel to Arkansas and Ole Miss next weekend. The Wildcats will face the Razorbacks on Friday at 6:30 p.m. E.T before taking on the Rebels on Sunday at 2 p.m. E.T. 

Doubles 

No.23 Lapadat/Mercer (UK) def. Blaydes/Moreno (AUB): 7-6 (7-3)

Baadi/Loutit (UK) def. Heng/Murgett (AUB): 7-5

Nolan/Stice (AUB) def. Rankin/Weekes (UK): 7-6 (7-5)

Singles 

No. 36 Taha Baadi (UK) def. No.43 Tyler Stice (AUB): 6-1, 6-2

Joshua Lapadat (UK) vs. No.91 Finn Murgett (AUB): 6-2, 2-4 (uf)

Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Alejandro Moreno (AUB): 6-3,6-1

Charlelie Cosnet (UK) vs. Billy Blaydes (AUB): 1-6, 5-4 (uf)

Jack Loutit (UK) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB): 6-1,6-1 

Christophe Clement (UK) vs. Will Nolan (AUB): 3-6, 4-2 (uf)

Order of Finish

Doubles- 2,3,1 

Singles – 1,5,3* 

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