LEXINGTON, Ky., – Despite being down two of its top players, No. 12 Mississippi State gave sixth-ranked Kentucky all it could handle on its home court on Sunday.
The Bulldogs’ only ranked singles competitors No. 108 Carles Hernandez and No. 123 Nemanja Malesevic, who also make up their 44th-ranked doubles team, were unavailable but MSU soldiered ahead only to come up just short in a 4-3 loss to the Wildcats.
Matt Roberts‘ Bulldogs split with UK (19-2, 7-1 SEC) in singles and lost a third-match tiebreaker with a newly formed doubles tandem that ultimately made the difference. Patrick Lazo and Michal Novansky teamed together for the first time and were narrowly edged 7-6(5) by former ITA National Player of the Year Liam Draxl and Jaden Weekes in the decisive doubles match.
The 74th-ranked State tandem of Petar Jovanovic and Ewen Lumsden earned a 7-5 victory over No. 38 Joshua Lapadat and JJ Mercer but Gregor Ramskogler and Benito Sanchez Martinez fell to 25th-ranked Alafia Ayeni and Taha Baadi 6-2.
Lumsden also claimed a huge singles victory as well that briefly tied the match 2-2. The graduate from Scotland moved ahead two spots in the lineup and took down Ayeni, ranked 27th nationally, in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-2.
Lumsden’s victories on Sunday were both the second-highest of his career, having previously defeated then No. 25 Phillip Henning of Georgia and also topping No. 32 Joshua Charlton and Quinn Vandecasteele of Oregon last season while at Washington.
Ramskogler also earned a straight-set win over Weekes 6-3, 6-2 while Novansky closed out the day with a 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Baadi.
No. 22 Draxl downed Jovanovic 6-3, 6-2, No. 44 Lapadat defeated Sanchez Martinez 6-3, 6-3 and Lazo lost to Charlelie Cosnet 6-2, 6-1 as the Bulldogs fell to 16-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
Mississippi State continues its two-week road trip next week with a pair of matches at No. 20 Tennessee on Friday and No. 48 Alabama next Sunday.
No. 6 Kentucky 4, No. 12 Mississippi State 3
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center | Lexington, Ky.
March 26, 2023
Doubles
1. No. 25 Alafia Ayeni/Taha Baadi (UK) def. Gregor Ramskogler/Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) 6-2
2. No. 74 Petar Jovanovic/Ewen Lumsden (MSU) def. No. 38 Joshua Lapadat/JJ Mercer (UK) 7-5
3. Liam Draxl/Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Patrick Lazo/Michal Novansky (MSU)…
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