Martin Breysach Wins Louisville Invitational, Men’s Tennis Wraps Up Opening Weekend of Fall Season
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama and LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – In his first action as a Wildcat, junior Martin Breysach kicked off the 2024-2025 Kentucky Men’s Tennis season in a major way, claiming victory in singles at the Louisville Invitational. The Strasbourg, France native earned his first four wins in the Blue and White as he worked his way through the top flight of the tournament’s draw, culminating in a 7-6 (6), 7-5 championship victory over Gabrielius Guzauskas of Illinois.
Breysach, a transfer from Baylor, began his run to the Louisville Invitational title on Friday, defeating Mathys Bove of Southern Indiana in straight sets. On Saturday, the Frenchman won twice to advance to the final, sweeping past Kyran Magimay of Notre Dame in the quarterfinals before winning a three-set dual over Louisville’s Piet Steveker. The host won the first set – the only set Breysach dropped all weekend – but the Cat responded by taking the second and clinching the win in a ten-point match tiebreak.
Breysach also picked up a victory in doubles alongside freshman Eric Crivei, as the duo split a pair of matches on Friday. Crivei also made his singles debut as a Wildcat, dropping his only match of the weekend in a third set match tiebreak.
Four Wildcats also competed this weekend at the SEC Challenge in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, highlighted by Jaden Weekes’ undefeated weekend in singles. The junior from Montreal, Quebec, Canada was dominant in his first action this season, winning all six sets and dropping only 14 games across three matches. The All-SEC second team member from a season ago picked up wins over players from Florida, Oklahoma, and Mississippi State.
Weekes was also partnered with sophomore Eli Stephenson in doubles, but the pairing lost their only match of the weekend in a pro set tiebreak, 8-7 (5), to Kevin Edengren and Magnus Johnson of Florida. Stephenson was forced to retire in his opening singles match of the tournament and did not compete in any more matches in the tournament.
Matt Rankin had a successful weekend in the first action of his sophomore campaign, winning two of three singles matches. The Scot picked up a pair of straight-set wins Vanderbilt’s Callum Markowitz and Bradley Paliska of Florida. His only loss came in three sets to Oklahoma’s Bruno Nhavene.
Charlelie Cosnet was the final Wildcat to open his season at the SEC Challenge, picking up a straight-set win over Dylan Charlap of Vanderbilt. The Le Mans, France native dropped his other two singles matches on the weekend to players from Oklahoma and Florida. Cosnet and Rankin also paired up in doubles, but failed to record a victory in three matches.
Selected Cats will continue the 2024 fall campaign at the ITA All-American Championships next week. The annual tournament held in Tulsa, Oklahoma will be the first opportunity for athletes to qualify for the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships to be held this November.
Louisville Invitational
Friday, September 13
Jack Batchelor/Matthew Nice (Bellarmine) def. Martin Breysach/Eric Crivei (Kentucky) 8-5
Martin Breysach/Eric Crivei (Kentucky) def. Moritz Kudernatsch/Sam Reeve (Memphis) 8-6
Martin Breysach (Kentucky) def. Mathys Bove (Southern Indiana) 7-5, 6-0
Jayanth Devaiah (Notre Dame) def. Eric Crivei (Kentucky) 7-6 (3), 4-6, [10-4]
Saturday, September 14
Martin Breysach (Kentucky) def. Kyran Magimay (Notre Dame) 6-3, 6-3
Martin Breysach (Kentucky) def. Piet Steveker (Louisville) 2-6, 6-3, [10-6]
Sunday, September 15
Martin Breysach (Kentucky) def. Gabrielius Guzauskas (Illinois) 7-6 (6), 7-5
SEC Challenge
Friday, September 13
Kevin Edengren/Magnus Johnson (Florida) def. Eli Stephenson/Jaden Weekes (Kentucky) 8-7 (5)
Dylan Charlap/Callum Markowitz (Vanderbilt) def. Charlelie Cosnet/Matt Rankin (Kentucky) 8-6
Jaden Weekes (Kentucky) def. Magnus Johnson (Florida) 6-2, 6-4
Kevin Edengren (Florida) def. Eli Stephenson (Kentucky) 3-3 (ret.)
Charlelie Cosnet (Kentucky) def. Dylan Charlap (Vanderbilt) 6-1, 7-5
Matt Rankin (Kentucky) def. Callum Markowitz (Vanderbilt) 7-6 (3), 6-2
Saturday, September 14
Oscar Lacides/Bruno Nhavene (Oklahoma) def. Charlelie Cosnet/Matt Rankin (Kentucky) 8-2
Jaden Weekes (Kentucky) def. Hank Trondson (Oklahoma) 6-2, 6-3
Oscar Lacides (Oklahoma) def. Charlelie Cosnet (Kentucky) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Bruno Nhavene (Oklahoma) def. Matt Rankin (Kentucky) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Sunday, September 15
Henry Jefferson/Bradley Paliska (Florida) def. Charlelie Cosnet/Matt Rankin (Kentucky) 8-2
Jaden Weekes (Kentucky) def. Radomir Tomic (Mississippi State) 6-2, 6-1
Henry Jefferson (Florida) def. Charlelie Cosnet (Kentucky) 6-0, 6-3
Matt Rankin (Kentucky) def. Bradley Paliska (Florida) 6-3, 6-3
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