STILLWATER, Okla. – Wildcat junior No. 22 Colton Smith defeated No. 65 Pawit Sornlaksup 6-4, 6-3 on Monday to secure a second-round berth in the NCAA Singles Championships. No. 35 Jay Friend fell to 17th-ranked Cannon Kingsley in a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 decision, concluding his 2024 season.
Friend fell behind 0-2 early in the first set against Kingsley, but the sophomore surged back to win five consecutive games take a 5-2 lead and went on to take the set. Kingsley responded by taking the second set 6-2, but the third saw a back-and-forth battle with the players trading games.
Kingsley broke to go up 4-2 in the final frame and never looked back, getting the 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win.
Smith traded games with Sornlaksup throughout the first set until he broke to go up 5-4 and eventually take the set. He went on to secure the straight-set 6-4, 6-3 win to advance to the second round.
You don’t want this Arizona heat
?? ESPN+#ArizonaTennis x #BearDown pic.twitter.com/ifgNktJb1n
— Arizona Men’s Tennis (@ArizonaMTennis) May 20, 2024
Friend concludes his 2023-24 campaign with 25 wins and his first career NCAA Singles Championships appearance. He defeated eight ranked opponents in his sophomore season and garnered All-Pac-12 First Team accolades as well as Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year honors.
Smith will take on San Diego’s Oliver Tarvet [6] Tuesday, May 21. The match’s time will be announced at a later time.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Arizona Athletics…