Wildcats Drop 4-2 Decision to No. 3 Texas

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky (12-9, 3-6 SEC) put up a valiant effort against No. 3 Texas (16-6, 7-2 SEC) but dropped a 4-2 decision to the Longhorns at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats’ doubles pairs claimed the opening point Nicolas Arseeault pulled an upset on court two but it was not enough against the defending Southeastern Conference Champions.

A furious comeback in the opening session of the match propelled the Wildcats to a 1-0 lead in the match. Once down a break in all three matches, Kentucky staged two successful comebacks on courts one and two to win the point. No. 19 Sebastian Eriksson and Oliver Ojakaar of Texas were the first to win, defeating No. 48 Nicolas Arseneault and Matt Rankin, 6-3, on court three.

No. 24 Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson evened things up with a 6-4 win over Abel Forger and Kalin Ivanovski on court one, allowing seniors Martin Breysach and Charlelie Cosnet to deliver the clinching blow. Down 5-3 at one point, the duo roared back to claim a 7-6 (5) win over No. 23 Sebastian Gorzny and Lucas Marionneau on court two.

In singles, Kentucky was able to hang around early, claiming a pair of first sets and forcing the Longhorns to 12 games on three more courts. Texas tied the match at 1-1 when Ojakaar sealed a 6-0, 6-1 win over No. 89 Cosnet on court five.

Mikael Arseneault put up a fight against Marionneau on court six but ultimately dropped a 7-5, 6-3 decision to give Texas a lead it would not relinquish.

The Cats tied it at 2-2 when No. 99 Nicolas Arseneault delivered one of the best wins of his collegiate career. The freshman raced through set one and buckled down in a second set tiebreak to earn his second career top 20 victory, outlasting No. 19 Ivanovski, 6-2, 7-6 (1).

On court one, Texas reclaimed the lead as No. 4 Gorzny outlasted No. 22 Stephenson. Both sets of the match were tied at 5-5, but it was the Longhorn who was able to win the clutch points and deliver a 7-5, 7-5 victory.

Jaden Weekes was able to claim the first set from No. 43 Eriksson but could not seal the deal as the Longhorn clinched the match with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win on court three.

No. 55 Loutit and No. 90 Forger were locked in a third set when the match concluded.

The Wildcats will hit the road next weekend, playing at No. 13 Vanderbilt on Friday, March 27 at 6 p.m. ET and at No. 6 Mississippi State on Sunday, March 29 at 2 p.m. ET.

For the latest on UK Men’s Tennis, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.

Kentucky vs. No. 3 Texas

Doubles Results

1. No. 24 Loutit/Stephenson (UK) def. Forger/Ivanovski (TEX) 6-4
2. Breysach/Cosnet (UK) def. No. 23 Gorzny/Marionneau (TEX) 7-6 (5)
3. No. 19 Eriksson/Ojakaar (TEX) def. No. 48 N. Arseneault/Rankin (UK) 6-3

Order of finish: 3, 1, 2

Singles Results

1. No. 4 Sebastian Gorzny (TEX) def. No. 22 Eli Stephenson (UK) 7-5, 7-5
2. No. 99 Nicolas Arseneault (UK) def. No. 19 Kalin Ivanovski (TEX) 6-2, 7-6 (1)
3. No. 43 Sebastian Eriksson (TEX) def. Jaden Weekes (UK) 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
4. No. 55 Jack Loutit (UK) vs. No. 90 Abel Forger (TEX) 5-7, 6-4, 0-2 (unfinished)
5. Oliver Ojakaar (TEX) def. No. 89 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) 6-0, 6-1
6. Lucas Marionneau (TEX) def. Mikael Arseneault (UK) 7-5, 6-3

Order of finish: 5, 6, 2, 1, 3