TUSCON, Ariz.– For the first time in program history Arizona has hosted the ITA Kickoff Weekend. For the first round of competition, they took on Miami. The Wildcats earned a 4-0 victory and secured a spot in the second round against No.24 Baylor Sun. Jan. 28.
Arizona was quick to earn the doubles point as court one and two secured the lead for the Wildcats early on.
Seniors Herman Hoeyeraal and Gustaf Strom started things off in the No.2 spot for Arizona putting up a 6-4 victory against Adrien Burdet and Martin Katz. No.11 Colton Smith and Jay Friend at the No.1 finished off the doubles match-up in a tie-breaker match 7-6(5).
No.34 Jay Friend was the only straight-set win of the match putting Arizona’s led to 2-0 after a 6-3, 6-1 victory on court 2. The rest of the singles proved to be a battle, but the Wildcats still came on top.
Hoeyeraal kept the lead against Yannik Rahman, after dropping the second set, but claiming the singles point n a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 finish. No.5 Colton Smith secured the second-round spot for the Wildcats after a dropping his first set in a tiebreaker, but coming back to a 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2 win.
This 4-0 victory takes Arizona to the second round of the ITA Weekend Kickoff. This would be Arizona’s first time qualifying for the ITA Indoor National Championship. Their opponents, No. 24 Baylor has a 13-year qualifying streak which Arizona hopes to break.
The Wildcats take on No. 24 Baylor Sun. Jan. 28 at 1:00 PM (MST) in the championship round. This top 25 match-up has both teams going in with undefeated season streaks.
MATCH RESULTS
Arizona v. Miami
Jan 27, 2024 at Tucson, Ariz.
(LaNelle Robson Tennis Center)
Arizona 4, Miami 0
Doubles Competition
1 Colton Smith and Jay Friend (ARIZ) def. Vladislav Melnic and Antonio Prat (UM) 7-6 [7-5]
2 Herman Hoeyeraal and Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) def. Adrien Burdet and Martin Katz (UM) 6-3
3 Sam Baumgartner and Nacho Serra Sanchez (UM) def. Nick Lagaev and Sasha Rozin (ARIZ) 6-4
Singles Competition
1 Colton Smith (ARIZ) def. Vladislav Melnic (UM) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-2
2 Jay Friend (ARIZ) def. Martin Katz (UM) 6-3 6-1
3 Antonio Prat (UM) vs. Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 0-1
4 Adrien Burdet (UM) vs. Nick Lagaev (ARIZ) 6-2 4-6 4-3
5 Herman Hoeyeraal (ARIZ) def. Yannik Rahman (UM) 6-1 3-6 6-2
6 Nacho Serra Sanchez (UM)…
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