TUCSON – The 10th-ranked Arizona men’s tennis program won its fourth consecutive match against Arizona State on Sunday, defeating the Sun Devils 4-2.
Play was tight across all three doubles courts with the squads trading sets until the Cats went up 3-1 on court three and never looked back. Sasha Rozin and Gustaf Strom allowed Roi Ginat and Daniel Phillips to win only one more game after taking the 3-1 lead, defeating the Sun Devils duo 6-2 for Arizona’s first win of the day.
The remaining two doubles courts both went to tiebreakers, and Arizona was able to clinch the doubles point with a 7-6(3) win by No. 17 Colton Smith and Jay Friend over Bor Artnak and Max McKennon on court one. Herman Hoeyeraal and Eric Padgham were locked in a tiebreaker battle when doubles was clinched, but the duo led 6-5 in the tiebreaker when the match was abandoned.
The Cats jumped out to early leads on five singles courts with Hoeyeraal, Strom, Friend, Christensen and Lagaev all recording first-set wins.
Hoeyeraal made quick work of his victory, taking down Ginat in a 6-1, 6-4 decision for his 16th win of dual match play.
Arizona State got on the board with a straight-set victory on court one when No. 8 Murphy Cassone defeated No. 14 Colton Smith 6-3, 6-3.
Casper Christensen put the Wildcats one point away from clinching the team victory with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Jacob Bullard, but No. 97 Artnak got Arizona State another team point with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over No. 31 Friend.
No. 73 Strom clinched the victory for Arizona, gutting out a 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-4 win over Max McKennon.
No. 10 Arizona will return to action Sunday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m. MST as it welcomes Utah to the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center for its final home match of the regular season.
Results
#10 Arizona 4, #21 Arizona State 2
Doubles Competition
Order of finish: 3, 1
- #17 Colton Smith/Jay Friend def. Bor Artnak/Max McKennon, 7-6(3)
- Herman Hoeyeraal/Eric Padgham vs. Jacob Bullard/Murphy Cassone 6-6(6-5), unfinished
- Sasha Rozin/Gustaf Strom def. Roi Ginat/Daniel Phillips, 6-2
Singles Competition
Order of finish: 4, 1, 5, 2, 3
- #8 Murphy Cassone def. #14 Colton Smith 6-3, 6-3
- #97 Bor Artnak def. #31 Jay Friend 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
- #73 Gustaf Strom def. Max McKennon 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-4
- Herman Hoeyeraal def. Roi Ginat 6-1, 6-4
- Casper Christensen…
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