The No. 11 University of Arizona men’s tennis team (24-4, 9-2 Big 12) secured the Big 12 Championship after an amazing 4-1 win over the University of Central Florida in Waco, Texas, on Sunday, April 20. This victory is the Wildcats’ second straight conference tournament title after winning the Pac-12 tournament in the 2023–2024 season.
Arizona was able to defeat a foe to which it had lost twice: first to UCF in the ITA Kickoff and then during conference play.
Big 12 Quarterfinals: Arizona 4 – Texas Tech 0
Arizona’s first matchup of the tournament pitted them against Texas Tech University, a team they had just beaten at home on March 30. Arizona came out hot, as they secured the doubles point on courts 2 and 3.
Jay Friend and Eric Padgham would move right past Texas Tech’s Niksa Arsic and Thiago Guglieri on court 2, securing the first finished set in a 6-2 domination. However, Iñaki Cabrera-Bello and Colton Smith fell short of a court 1 victory, as they fell 6-3. Arizona’s Casper Christensen and Filip Gustafsson gave the Wildcats fresh air as they secured the doubles point in a 7-5 win on court 3.
Singles play wrapped up in yet another Arizona blowout, as the Wildcats won the first three finished sets. First, Smith would win in a speedy 6-1, 6-3 victory on court 1 over Texas Tech’s Piotr Pawlak. Alexander Rozin would come up big, winning court 5 6-3, 6-4. Arizona’s Friend ensured the win for the Wildcats as he was able to get past a first-set tiebreaker and achieve a 7-6 (4), 6-3 win on court 2.
Big 12 Semifinals: Arizona 4 – Baylor 2
Arizona’s trip to the semifinals didn’t start how they wanted it to, as they dropped the doubles point after Cabrera-Bello and Smith dropped court 1 in a 6-1 loss and Friend and Padgham dropped court 2 in a 6-4 loss.
Advancing to singles play proved to be a struggle for both the Wildcats and the Bears. Friend would be the first to secure an Arizona point as he won a back-and-forth court 2 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. Rozin would be next, capturing court 5 after a 7-6 (5) tiebreaker in the second set. Smith captured the third consecutive point for the Wildcats as he broke another tiebreaker, this time 7-6 (6). Baylor tried to claw their way back with a three-set win on court 4, which saw Gustafsson fall to Baylor’s Alexandru Chirita (6-2, 6-1, 7-5). Arizona secured its place in the conference championship as Christensen won court 6 after a three-set battle.
Big 12 Championship: Arizona 4 – UCF 1
With championship hopes on the horizon, Arizona looked to dominate against the University of Central Florida. However, the Wildcats would be down early, dropping the doubles point with losses on courts 1 and 3. Arizona’s lone doubles win came in a new duo of Rozin and Smith, who won court 2 6-3.
Singles showcased Wildcat grit and determination as Arizona would win swiftly in four two-set victories. First, Friend beat UCF’s Liam Branger 6-2, 6-4 on court 2. Christensen, Smith and Rozin would then secure three straight 6-3, 6-3 wins on courts 6, 1 and 5, respectively.
Arizona’s successful campaign highlighted the Wildcats’ singles grit and ability to come back despite dropping their doubles points in the semifinals and championship.
Looking ahead
The Wildcats now look ahead to the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship, which will be taking place in Waco, Texas, from Thursday, May 15, to Sunday, May 18. The Wildcats will have to wait until Sunday, April 28, at 2:30 p.m. to see who the NCAA Selection Show pits them against.
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