Alabama Upsets Mississippi State in Second Round of SEC Tournament

AUBURN, Ala. – The Alabama men’s tennis team defeated 15th-nationally ranked and sixth seed in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, Mississippi State, with a 4-3 victory on Thursday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.

Alabama (12-14, 4-9 SEC) secured the opening point, posting victories from Enzo Aguiard and Zach Foster on court two and Joao Ferreira and Yair Sarouk, who took a 7-1 tiebreak win, on court three, respectively.

Mississippi State (19-7, 7-5 SEC) would win back-to-back singles matches at courts four and one, which included a tiebreaker on court one, to take a 2-1 lead. Zach Foster, court five, and Matias Ponce De Leon, court three, moved Alabama back in front at 3-2. Mississippi State would once again tie the match with a win on court two, but Yair Sarouk clinched the win for the Tide with a three-set victory on court six.

The Match

• For the 11^th time this season, Alabama had a match determined by a 4-3 decision
• Enzo Aguiard and Zach Foster recorded the first win of the day, taking a 6-3 victory over Michal Novansky and Charles Hernandez on doubles court two
• The Tigers evened the attempt for the doubles point, posting a 6-4 win on court one
• Joao Ferreira and Yair Saoruk forced a tie on court three and cruised through the tiebreak to take a 7-6 (1) victory to give UA the first point
• Mississippi State took back-to-back wins on courts four and one, respectively, to take the lead
• No. 92-ranked Filip Planinsek forced a tiebreak on court one against Peter Jovanovic, but was unable to hold on, falling 6-3, 7-6 (6)
• Zach Foster overcame a 6-4 first-set loss to take the match with a 6-3 and 6-1 win, respectively, in sets two and three 
• The Bulldogs would once again tie the match, 3-3, with a win on court two but Yair Sarouk recorded a come-from-behind victory on court six for the team win
• The freshman would defeat Gregor Ramskogler 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 to clinch the overall win

Up Next

• The Crimson Tide will await selection for the men’s NCAA Tournament on May 2
• Selection for the singles and doubles championships will be announced May 3

Results

Doubles

Order of finish (2, 1, 3)

Singles

• 1| Petar Jovanovic (MS) def. #92 Filip Planinsek (UA) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)
• 2| #116 Carles Hernandez (MS) def. #121 Enzo Aguiard (UA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
• 3| Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) def. #103 Ewen Lumsden (MS) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
• 4| B. Sanchez Martinez (MS) def. Roan Jones (UA) 6-3, 6-2
• 5| Zach Foster (UA)…