The No. 11 University of Arizona men’s tennis team ended its season with six straight Big 12 victories. The Wildcats’ last five outings resulted in shutout wins, including a shutout against rivals ASU in Tempe on Saturday, April 12. This streak was the Wildcats’ longest and most successful of the season.
Arizona avenged two straight losses to open conference play, first losing 4-3 to the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, March 16. Their second loss came after traveling once again to Fort Worth, Texas where the Wildcats fell 4-2 to TCU on Friday, March 21. Arizona’s stellar play to end the season placed them second in the conference, only down to TCU who went 8-0 in conference play.
Sunday, March 23: Arizona 4 – Baylor 1
Arizona fought back to keep their season strong, landing in Waco, Texas, with a fight to give. The Wildcats came out hot, securing the doubles point with victories on courts 1 and 2. Iñaki Cabrera-Bello and Colton Smith secured court 1 in a 7-5 victory, while Jay Friend and Eric Padgham secured a tiebreaker 7-6 (4) victory to keep the Wildcats’ momentum going.
Entering singles play, Casper Christensen would nearly sweep court 6, beating Baylor’s Luc Koenig 6-0 in the first set and 6-1 in the second. However, Arizona would be on the other end of a swift defeat as Baylor’s Zsombor Velcz beat Zoran Ludoski 6-3 in the first set and 6-1 in the second.
Arizona clinched the win as Friend secured a strong 6-3, 6-4 victory on court 2 and Alexander Rozin won 6-0, 6-4 on court 5, handing the Wildcats their first Big 12 conference victory.
Friday, March 28: Arizona 4 – Oklahoma State 0
Arizona returned to Tucson to square off against Oklahoma State University at LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. Arizona’s conference homestand did not just end in their favor but in an absolute electric showing.
For doubles play, Friend and Padgham would secure court 1 in a 6-2 victory over OSU’s Alessio Basile and Nicolas Kobelt. However, OSU made their case for victory by securing court 2. Cowboys Ian Bracks and Thomas Gadecki would win in a 7-6 (5) tiebreaker victory, as Arizona’s Cabrera-Bello and Glib Sekachov fell in their first duo set. At the end, Christensen and Filip Gustafsson would get the other side of a similar tiebreaker, winning 7-6 (5) on court 3.
Singles play continued Arizona’s dominance, as they only needed the first three finished courts to win. Rozin was the first to capture victory, winning 6-2, 6-4 on court 4. Ludoski wasn’t far behind, defeating OSU’s Derek Pham 6-3, 6-1. Friend would round it out for the Wildcats, securing court 1 6-3, 7-5.
Sunday, March 30: Arizona 4 – Texas Tech 0
Arizona’s home play continued without pause, as the Wildcats dominated the Red Raiders.
In doubles, Arizona was quick to succeed, with Friend and Padgham winning court 1 6-3 and Cabrera-Bello and Sekachov redeeming their OSU loss with a 7-5 win on court 2.
Arizona secured three two-set victories in singles play, starting with Christensen defeating Texas Tech University’s Felipe Pagnacco 6-2, 6-4 on court 5. Rozin would be next to win in a tiebreaker as he secured court 4 6-2, 7-6 (5). Finally, Friend put the icing on the cake as he secured court 1 over Texas Tech’s Piotr Pawlak.
Thursday, April 3: Arizona 4 – Utah 0
Arizona’s hot streak continued to surge as they won their matchup against the Utes.
In doubles, both Cabrera-Bello and Sekachov and Friend and Padgham would take the winning point after 6-3 victories on courts 2 and 1, respectively.
The Wildcats secured another singles victory in only three court finishes. Rozin started the chain of victory as he beat the University of Utah’s Max Relic 6-2, 6-1 on court 4. Christensen would be the headliner in the Wildcats’ victory, securing court 5 in a massive 6-1, 6-1 stunner. Finally, Matthias Uwe-Kask would round out the Wildcats’ play, grabbing the 6-2, 6-1 victory on court 6. Arizona proved dominance, not allowing more than 2 points in a single set.
Saturday, April 5: Arizona 4 – BYU 0
The final game in Arizona’s four-game homestand ended in yet another sweep.
In doubles, Cabrera-Bello and Smith were paired back together for the first time since their victory in Waco, Texas, against Baylor. The duo would secure the first doubles win on court 2, beating BYU’s Alex Edmonston and Hardy Owen in a commanding 6-0 win. Christensen and Gustafsson would secure the doubles point for the Wildcats with a 6-2 win on court 3.
In singles, Smith would come back in style as he dominated court 1 with a stellar 6-2, 6-2 victory over BYU’s Wally Thayne. Next, Friend would secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory on court 2. Finally, Christensen put the nail in the coffin as he defeated BYU’s Tygen Goldammer in another 6-3, 6-4 win.
Saturday, April 12: Arizona 4 – ASU 0
Arizona defeated the rival from up north in stellar fashion while away in Tempe.
Starting with doubles, Friend and Padgham secured a 6-3 doubles victory on court 1 for their seventh straight appearance, ending the season 16-1 when paired. Cabrera-Bello and Smith clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win over ASU’s Bor Artnak and Mikey Anderson on court 2.
Singles play would happen in a snap as victories on courts 1, 5 and 6 secured Arizona’s Territorial Cup win. First on court 5, Rozin would win 6-2, 6-4 over ASU’s Tanner Povey. Next, Christensen would secure court 6 after a 6-3, 6-4 win over ASU’s Roi Ginat. Finally, Smith would end the Wildcats’ season on a high note as he secured court 1 in a 6-4, 6-4 win over ASU’s Artnak.
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