Wildcats Fall to Alabama, 4-3
Lexington, Ky.– The Kentucky Men’s Tennis team (9-7, 2-4 SEC) dropped a 4-3 decision to Alabama (9-8, 3-3 SEC) on Friday evening. The match was the fourth-straight 4-3 result for the Cats, with Kentucky 1-3 in that stretch.
A pair of tiebreakers decided the match at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex, with Alabama claiming the doubles point on a tiebreaker on the final court and winning the clinching singles point with a third set tiebreaker on court six. In each of Kentucky’s last three losses, the Wildcats have dropped a deciding set tiebreaker on the final court.
In doubles play, No. 19 Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson fall to Alabama’s Vit Kalina and Andrii Zimnokh on court one. The Wildcats make it even with the newly-minted No. 2 pair of Charlelie Cosnet and Martin Breysach defeating Jacob Olar and Matic Kriznik, 6-4. However, the Crimson Tide ultimately secured the opening point in a tiebreaker on court tree.
In singles play, Alabama’s Yoshka Sborowky is the first to grab a singles win, defeating No. 38 Jack Loutit on court four. Kentucky’s Jaden Weekes completes his match in a swift two sets, defeating Alabama’s No. 75 Matic Kriznik 6-4, 6-3, and putting the Wlidcats within one. The win marked the first ranked victory of the year for Weekes.
No. 24 Eli Stephenson fell to Alabama’s Vit Kalina on court one in straight sets. With Alabama just one point away from securing the match, No. 77 Charlelie Cosnet in a stellar performance defeats Carlos Gimenez Perez, 7-5, 6-1 on court five. Cosnet is now in the midst of a four-match win streak and is 5-1 in SEC play.
With the Wildcats 3-2, No. 102 Nicolas Arseneault battled back on court two to defeat Alabama’s Andrii Zimnokh, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. The victory helped Arseneault snap a four-match slump in conference play.
Ultimately, Alabama would claim the victory on court six, as Rohan Hazratwala withstood the comeback attempt from Mikael Arseneault to deliver a 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (1) clinching victory for the Tide.
The Wildcats will host again for their seventh conference match of the season against No. 18 Auburn on Sunday at 1 p.m. E.T. Admission to the match at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex is free to the public.
Kentucky vs. Alabama
Doubles Results:
1. Vit Kalina/Andrii Zimnokh (AL) def. No. 19 Jack Loutit/Eli Stephenson (UK) 6-2
2. Charlelie Cosnet/Martin Breysach (UK ) def. Jacob Olar/Matic Kriznik (AL) 6-4
3. Rohan Hazratwala/Brenden Loh (AL) def. Matt Rankin/Mikael Arseneault (UK) 7-6(7)
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles Results:
1. Vit Kalina (AL) def. No. 24 Eli Stephenson (UK) 6-1, 7-5
2. No.102 Nicolas Arseneault (UK) def. Andrii Zimnokh (AL) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Jaden Weekes (UK) def. No. 75 Matic Kriznik (AL) 6-4, 6-3
4. Yoshka Sborowsky (AL) def. No. 38 Jack Loutit (UK) 6-2, 6-3
5. No. 77 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Carlos Gimenez Perez (AL) 7-5, 6-1
6. Rohan Hazratwala (AL) def. Mikael Arseneault (UK) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(1)
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 1, 5, 2, 6
