The No. 10 University of Arizona men’s tennis team (7-1) captured two straight games to open up its home weekend slate in commanding fashion at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. The Wildcats first faced Utah State University at 10 a.m. on Feb. 7, dominating the Aggies 7-0. Arizona wouldn’t stop there, going on to beat Loyola Marymount University 7-0 at 2 p.m.
This performance mirrors how the Wildcats opened their season by beating New Mexico State University 7-0 twice on Jan. 14. This season, Arizona is currently more likely to win a game all out than not at all, as the Wildcats have six wins without the other team recording a court win.
Arizona’s success can be attributed to the stellar year players Colton Smith and Jay Friend have been having. Smith, currently ranked No. 3 in singles, has had both a hot year for the Wildcats and him. Smith entered the weekend fresh off an ATP Challenger first-place finish and totaled 12 court wins for the Wildcats. Friend is ranked No. 5 in singles, having nine court wins and not losing a single singles set this season.
Game 1: Arizona vs Utah State University – Friday, Feb. 7
Arizona walked away with the doubles point quickly as the Wildcats captured both courts 2 (6-3) and 3 (6-4) in quick succession.
Arizona then dominated the singles matches with Casper Christensen winning court 4 6-3 and 6-1 in one of the fastest victories this year for the Wildcats. Christensen was followed by Zoran Ludoski winning 6-3, and 6-4 on court 2. Iñaki Cabrera-Bello then secured court 6, 6-2, 6-4. The first three teams to finish demonstrated the speed and skill the Wildcats have brought to the court this season.
The final matches were the icing on the cake for Arizona’s victory. Oskar Jansson won court 5 in stellar fashion, going 6-0 in the first set then 7-6 (7-5) in the second. Smith triumphed in his match on court 1, winning in three sets as he went 6-1, 3-6 and 6-2. Finally, Glib Sekachov put the cherry on top of Arizona’s domination winning in three sets going 7-5, 3-6 and 1-0 (10-5).
Smith’s performance earned him the program record for most single-match wins, with 97 victories.
Game 2: Arizona vs. Loyola Marymount University – Friday, Feb. 7
Arizona won the doubles point again with wins on courts 1 (6-2) and 3 7-6 [7-3] -0. The doubles outing was headlined by a speedy victory from the duo of Friend and Eric Padgham, who are the winningest duo of the season going 5-0 so far in doubles play.
Arizona’s success wouldn’t end there, as the Wildcats went on to sweep all six courts. Smith dominated court 2 going 6-1, 6-1 of the fastest singles matches of the season thus far. Friend was also victorious on court 1, going 6-2, 6-4. Alexander Rozin continued the Wildcats’ momentum, demonstrating the speediness of Arizona’s winning court 4, 6-2, 6-1.
Arizona flat-out dominated the Lions, securing courts 3 and 5 in just two sets with only one match going to a tiebreaker. On court 6, Matthias Uwe-Kask achieved the blowout by winning the tiebreaker and match, going 4-6, 6-4 and 1-0 (10-2).
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