Alabama Men’s Tennis Returns Home to Face No. 18 Tennessee, No. 6 Kentucky

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ––The Alabama men’s tennis team (9-7, 1-2 SEC) will host a pair of top-20 nationally ranked opponents this week when it welcomes No. 18 Tennessee (11-5, 2-1 SEC) and No. 6 Kentucky (15-2, 3-1 SEC) to the Alabama Tennis Stadium. The Crimson Tide will go head-to-head with the Volunteers at 4 p.m. CT on Thursday before facing the Wildcats at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The Matches

Tennessee:

• Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
• Time: 4 p.m. CT
• Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• Venue: Alabama Tennis Stadium

Kentucky:

• Date: Saturday, March 18, 2023
• Time: 1 p.m. CT
• Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• Venue: Alabama Tennis Stadium

How to Follow

• Links to live scoring and video stream will be available at RollTide.com
• Updates will be provided on the team’s Twitter account, @AlabamaMTN

About The Crimson Tide

• In a difficult stretch to open the conference season, Alabama will face its fifth and sixth consecutive ranked SEC opponent when it takes on No. 18 Tennessee and No. 6 Kentucky this week
• Alabama is coming off an exciting road win after downing then-No. 16 Florida on Sunday
• The Tide defeated the Gators for the first time since 2008, while also capturing the team’s best ranked victory since UA defeated No. 15 Mississippi State in 2021  
• During the battle against Florida, Filip Planinsek, Matias Ponce De Leon and German Samofalov all secured wins over ranked singles opponents
• On the season, No. 63 Enzo Aguiard and Roan Jones hold a team-leading 10-5 record in singles play
• In doubles, Filip Planinsek and Aguiard are 4-4 at the No. 1 spot, while German Samofalov and Yair Sarouk have captured four wins while playing at No. 2 in the lineup

Scouting The Volunteers

• Tennessee enters the match ranked No. 18 with an 11-5 overall record and a 2-1 run in conference
• The team is coming off a 6-1 win over LSU last Saturday
• Johannus Monday is the top-ranked singles player for Tennessee, entering the match at No. 7, while No. 62 Emile Hudd and No. 120 Shunsuke Mitsui round out the lineup
• Three doubles teams are ranked for the Vols with doubles partners Monday and Pat Harper ranked fourth nationally, Emile Hudd and Shunsuke Mitsui ranked 50^th and Kent Hunter and Shunsuke Mitsui ranked 70^th
• Alabama and Tennessee will go head-to-head for the 61^st time in series history with Tennessee holding a 48-12 advantage
• The Volunteers won the last…