Saturday’s match against ASU was not the upset the Arizona women’s tennis team was hoping for.

Instead, the No. 22 Sun Devils (9-6, 2-0 Pacific 10 Conference) got early momentum and dealt No. 36 Arizona (8-8, 2-5) a 6-1 loss at Robson Tennis Center.

The loss was the Wildcats’ fifth straight against the Sun Devils, with Arizona’s last win coming in 2004.

Senior Kasia Jakowlew said the loss coming at home only added to the disappointment.

“”But we will play them again away, so hopefully (the loss) will fire us up to do a better job next time,”” she said.

The Wildcats have struggled closing out matches all season long and again Saturday. In several matches, the Wildcats won the first few games only to watch ASU pull away shortly thereafter.

In doubles, the No. 1 team of Jakowlew and freshman Natalia Toporowska were on serve with the Sun Devils, trailing 3-2, before ASU took control to win the match 8-3.

The same happened in Toporowska’s No. 3 singles match. After losing the first set 6-2, Toporowska gained a 4-1 lead over ASU’s Roxanne Clarke in the second. But then Clarke took control and went on to win the set 7-5.

“”She switched her style up (in the second set),”” Toporowska said. “”She played to my weaknesses, which kind of messed me up. ASU’s a good team; they’re not just going to roll over and die when you get up on them.””

After taking her first singles set 6-1, junior Juliette Mavroleon lost the next two sets, 6-1, 6-2.

Jakowlew said closing out matches is “”crucial when playing teams like ASU or other Pac-10 teams. That is where the difference lies, that is where you either take it or you let them win over you.

“”That is definitely something we have to improve upon.””

New courts slow down men in Tempe

After being swept by Arizona last season, No. 56 ASU made sure that wouldn’t happen for a second straight year.

The Sun Devils men’s tennis team (9-6) took advantage of their home court and defeated the No. 75 Wildcats 6-1 Saturday.

Arizona (5-10) extended its current four-game losing streak, equaling the team’s longest skid of the year. Over their last four matches, the Wildcats have won only four of a possible 28 points.

“”We are disappointed (about the losses), but we are just going to use it as motivation to train harder for these next few weeks,”” said junior Jason Labrosse.

Home-court advantage played a bigger role than usual because the Sun Devils recently resurfaced their courts. The new surface slowed down the ball enough to keep Arizona off balance throughout the match.

Labrosse said ASU’s courts “”were really slow.””

“”The ball grips (the courts) a lot more,”” he said. “”We had trouble hitting our shots. Shots that would be winners in Tucson weren’t winners (in Tempe). The balls were always coming back, and the ASU guys knew how to finish their points.””

“”We were playing like we usually play in Tucson, and that didn’t work. We just didn’t find any answers,”” he said. “”It should be a whole different story when we play in Tucson.””