No. 8 Kentucky Drops Opening Round of ITA Indoors Against No. 19 NC State
DALLAS, Texas – No. 8 Kentucky (6-2, 0-0 SEC) dropped its first round contest at the 2025 ITA Indoor National Championships on Friday evening, falling to No. 19 NC State (7-2, 0-0 ACC), 4-1. In the defeat, freshman Antoine Ghibaudo earned his first career ranked win, defeating No. 16 Braden Shick in straight sets.
The Cats are now 1-2 on the season against ranked opposition, with a win over No. 20 Arizona State and losses to No. 23 Michigan State and No. 19 NC State.
The Wolfpack gained an early edge on the doubles courts, thanks to a pair of wins from their pair of top-35 doubles teams. No. 33 Jules Leroux and Luca Staeheli claimed a late break to take No. 2 doubles over Eli Stephenson and Jack Loutit, 6-4. Another late break at No. 1 doubles allowed No. 28 Shick and Fons Van Sambeek to clinch the opening point with a 7-5 over Jaden Weekes and Martin Breysach.
In singles, the Wildcats could never gain any momentum, as NC State took opening sets on four of the six courts. Leroux gave the Wolfpack a 2-0 lead with a straight sets win over Matt Rankin on court six.
Ghibaudo, the ITA’s No. 1 newcomer, earned the biggest singles win of his young collegiate career, taking down a top 20 opponent in Shick, 7-6 (4), 6-3. The Paris native is now 1-1 against ranked opposition this year and is 3-1 overall.
However, moments after Ghibaudo brought the Wildcats within one, No. 62 Weekes dropped a tiebreaker against Martin Borisiouk at No. 2 singles to drop the match, 6-3, 7-6 (4), and give NC State a 3-1 lead.
The match would be clinched at No. 4 singles, as No. 95 Cosnet’s comeback attempt fell short against Van Sambeek, falling 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
The Wildcats are guaranteed a pair of consolation matches to close the week, first facing off against the host SMU Mustangs at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 15.
For the latest on UK Men’s Tennis, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.
No. 8 Kentucky vs. No. 19 NC State
Doubles Results
- No. 28 Shick/Van Sambeek (NCSU) def. Breysach/Weekes (UK) 7-5
- No. 33 Leroux/Staeheli (NCSU) def. Stephenson/Loutit(UK) 6-4
- Cosnet/Ghibaudo (UK) vs. Nedelchev/Manning (NCSU) 5-5 (unfinished)
Order of finish: 2, 1
Singles Results
- Antoine Ghibaudo (UK) def. No. 16 Braden Shick (NCSU) 7-6(4), 6-3
- No. 45 Martin Borisiouk (NCSY) def. No. 62 Jaden Weekes (UK) 6-3, 7-6(4)
- No. 68 Jack Loutit (UK) vs. No. 110 Luca Staeheli (NCSU) 6-7 (5), 3-3 (unfinished)
- Fons Van Sambeek (NCSU) def. No. 95 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
- Eli Stephenson (UK) vs. Nikolay Nedelchev (NCSU) 6-3, 6-7(1), 1-0 (unfinished)
- Jules Leroux (NCSU) def. Matt Rankin (UK) 6-4, 6-2
Order of finish: 6, 1, 2, 4
