FORT WORTH, Texas – The No. 19 Illinois men’s tennis team (12-9) lost to Texas Christian (15-0), 4-1, Sunday afternoon at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
“Our team came to play today and I give TCU a ton of credit,” head coach Brad Dancer said. “They withstood some shots from us and kept their composure. Essentially, this match boils down to one thing and one thing only – we were out coached and out prepared. We didn’t do the things necessary for our guys to continue their focus for an extended period of time. That’s on the coaching staff.
We have a very short week before welcoming Penn State to start Big Ten play. Needless to say, we as coaches have to prepare this team better to take advantage of opportunities.”
The Illini won the doubles point after Kenta Miyoshi and Alex Petrov beat Sander Jong and Jack Pinnington, 6-3.
Mathis Debru and Oliver Okonkwo clinched the doubles point in a tie break, 7-6 (5) over Sebastian Gorzny and Pedro Vives.
Karlis Ozolins and Hunter Heck were in their tie break at the same time and the match ultimately went unfinished.
Nic Meister was the first to fall, losing his match, 6-1, 6-2, to Vives. Petrov then dropped his match, 6-3, 6-3, to No. 14 Jake Fearnley.
Oliver Okonkwo went to a tie break in his first set but was unsuccessful, going on to lose his match 7-6 (1), 6-3 to Gorzny.
Heck then went on to drop his match, 7-6 (3), 6-1, to Pinnington.
Both Ozolins and Mrozes’ matches went unfinished.
The Illini will welcome Penn State to Atkins on March 24 at 6 p.m. for the BIg Ten Home Opener.
Results
Doubles competition
1. #12 Jake Fearnley/Luc Fomba (TCU) vs. Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) 6-6, unfinished
2. #52 Mathis Debru/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. #73 Sebastian Gorzny/Pedro Vives (TCU) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Kenta Meyoshi/Alex Petrov (ILL) def. Sander Jong/Jack Pinnington (TCU) 6-3
Singles competition
1. #14 Jake Fearnley (TCU) def. #96 Alex Petrov (ILL) 6-2, 6-3
2. #19 Luc Fomba (TCU) vs. #42 Karlis Ozolins (ILL) 3-6, 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
3. Jack Pinnington (TCU) def. Hunter Heck (ILL) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
4. #51 Sander Jong (TCU) vs. William Mroz (ILL) 7-6 (7-5), 5-2, unfinished
5. #62 Sebastian Gorzny (TCU) def. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
6. Pedro Vives (TCU) def. Nic Meister (ILL) 6-1, 6-2
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