
Men’s Tennis Drops 4-3 Match to Auburn in SEC Tournament
COLUMBIA, S.C.– Despite a valiant comeback effort in singles play, Kentucky (16-11, 7-7 SEC) dropped a 4-3 decision to Auburn (19-9, 7-7 SEC) in the Second Round of the SEC Tournament.
Today’s match marks the second time this season that the Cats lost a 4-3 match to Auburn after the same score line unfolded when the two teams met on the Plains in the regular season. With the loss, Kentucky three-year run of advancing to the SEC Tournament finals—including championship runs in 2023 and 2024—has come to an end.
The Tigers opened the match by taking a tight doubles point with wins on courts two and three. Jake Kennedy and Hamza Nasridinov opened a 5-2, double break lead on Jaden Weekes and Antoine Ghibaudo at No. 3 doubles before the Wildcat duo was able to come within one point of tying the match. However, the Auburn pair fended off the pair of break points to seal the 6-4 win. On court two, Billy Blaydes and Joey Phillips were able to rally from a 4-2 deficit to take down Kentucky’s Martin Breysach and Charlelie Cosnet, securing the opening point with a 6-4 win.
In singles, the two teams continued the tight play by splitting the opening sets on all six courts. Auburn was able to extend its lead on court three, as Blaydes knocked off No. 86 Weekes, 6-2, 6-3.
The Cats were able to even the match in a hurry, as No. 48 Ghibaudo and Conset each breezed through their singles matches. Ghibaudo claimed the point at No. 1 singles with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Will Nolan and Cosnet defeated Nasridinov by the same score line on court four.
No. 57 Jack Loutit was able to extend his No. 2 singles match past ten games in the second, but his comeback bid was ultimately halted by No. 68 Alex Frusina, with the Tiger taking the match’s only ranked matchup, 6-3, 7-5.
With Auburn leading 3-2, a pair of third sets on courts five and six decided the match. After taking the opening frame, Eli Stephenson rallied from a second set loss and an early break in the decider, finishing the match with authority and tying the dual at 3-3 with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles.
With the match in the hands of Matt Rankin, the Wildcat was unable to gain momentum in the early stages of the third set, dropping a pair of critical deciding points that put the win out of reach. Despite a late surge, the Cat fell to Phillips, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, securing the win for Auburn.
The Cats will await their NCAA Tournament destination until the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship Selection Show, set to take place on Monday, April 28.
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No. 30 Kentucky vs. No. 33 Auburn
Doubles Results
- No. 14 Stephenson/Loutit (UK) vs. Nolan/Frusina (AUB) 4-5 (unfinished)
- Blaydes/Phillips (AUB) def. Breysach/Cosnet (UK) 6-4
- Kennedy/Nasridinov (AUB) def. Ghibaudo/Weekes (UK) 6-4
Order of finish: 3, 2
Singles Results
- No. 48 Antoine Ghibaudo (UK) def. Will Nolan (AUB) 6-2, 6-3
- No. 68 Alex Frusina (AUB) def. No. 57 Jack Loutit (UK) 6-3, 7-5
- Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. No. 86 Jaden Weekes (UK) 6-2, 6-3
- Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) 6-2, 6-3
- Eli Stephenson (UK) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
- Joey Phillips (AUB) def. Matt Rankin (UK) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 1, 4, 2, 5, 6