Men's Tennis
Liam Draxl - Men's Tennis - University of Kentucky Athletics

LiamDraxl

  • height 6-1
  • Weight 180
  • class Junior
  • Hometown Newmarket, Ontario
  • Major Communications
  • High school Laurel Springs School

2022-23 (Senior): Team Captain … ITA All-American in singles … All-SEC First Team … NCAA Singles Tournament Qualifier as a 9-16 seed … Advanced to the round of 16 at NCAA Singles Tournament … Ohio Valley Region ITA Senior Player of the Year … Went 19-8 on the year, playing primarily at first singles … 20-8 doubles record, including 15-5 alongside Jaden Weekes … Posted 9-8 singles record against nationally-ranked opponents … Finished the season with four clinches … Defeated ITA No. 2 Johannus Monday in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament … Took down at No. 6 Toby Samuel of South Carolina in straight-sets in SEC opener … Ended year at No. 11 in the ITA Singles Rankings … Named SEC Athlete of the Week on March 29 … Named Male Athlete of the Year at CATSPY’s.

2021-22 (Junior): Named to All-NCAA Tournament Team at the first position … Named to All-SEC First Team … Named SEC Player of the Week on April 18 after defeating two top-40 opponents in singles … Peaked as No. 4 player in singles, finishing the year at No. 6 … Went 16-7 in singles during dual matches, all of which came from the top spot, with 10 wins coming against ranked opponents … Defeated No. 11 Hanish Stewart on No. 12 Kentucky’s senior day 6-1 win against No. 10 Georgia …  Appeared in eight doubles rankings alongside Millen Hurrion, peaking at No. 26  … Defeated No. 45 Garrett Johns and Sean Sculley 7-6(3) alongside Hurrion in team’s 4-2 vicotry against Duke … 14-12 record in doubles in spring … Scored clinching team point five times, including against Ohio State’s Cannon Kingsley in the NCAA Tournament Final Four.

2020-21 (Sophomore): Named first ITA National Player of the Year in program history … Named ITA All-American in singles … Named SEC Newcomer of the Year … Named to ITA Collegiate All-Star Team, All-SEC first team and SEC All-Newcomer Team … Named SEC Player of the Week and SEC Newcomer of the Week twice each … Reached singles semifinals at NCAA Championships … Earned No. 1 singles seed at NCAA Championships … Earned No. 1 ranking in final five ITA singles rankings … Appeared in every ITA singles rankings … Recorded 25-3 singles record … Recorded 2-0 record against opponents ranked No. 1 in ITA singles rankings … Defeated 13 opponents ranked in ITA singles rankings … Recorded 15-8 doubles record … Defeated No. 70 Valentin Vacherot and Pierce Rollins 7-6 (7-5) alongside Millen Hurrion in No. 14 Kentucky’s 4-1 loss to No. 8 Texas A&M in the SEC Championship quarterfinals on April 21 … Scored clinching team point twice.

2019-20 (Freshman): Named to SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll … Began fall ranked No. 2 in ITA Freshman/Newcomer singles rankings … Recorded 6-4 singles record in spring and 8-4 doubles record in spring … Recorded 5-4 singles record on top court … Recorded 7-3 doubles record alongside César Bourgois on top court … Defeated No. 65 Nico Mostardi 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 in Kentucky’s 7-0 win over Cleveland State on Jan. 16 … Scored clinching team point in Kentucky’s 4-0 win over IUPUI on Jan. 28.

Personal: Native to Newmarket, Ontario … Graduate of Laurel Springs School … Was listed as a top-10 International Tennis Federation Junior before enrolling at Kentucky … Communications major at UK … Son to Brian and Alison Draxl, brother to Stephanie Draxl … First thing Liam would buy if he won the lottery is anything his mother would want … Favorite professional athlete is Rafa Nadal … When not playing tennis, Draxl is an avid golfer … Chose Kentucky over Texas A&M, cited the coaching staff here as the biggest reason for coming to Lexington … Top tennis memory is winning the Lexington Challenger in Doubles … Listens to Drake before matches … Favorite movie is Grown Ups, TV show is Prison Break … Top food is sushi.

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