TUCSON, Ariz. – #18 Arizona remains undefeated at home after a statement 4-3 victory against #9 USC on Sunday, April 2 at LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. The 3.5 hour gritty match was packed with rowdy Wildcat fans until the very last point.
Despite dropping the doubles point to the Trojans, the Wildcats climbed back in singles to secure the third win ever against USC and move up to the No. 1 spot in Pac-12 teams. #45 Jonas Ziverts put Arizona on the board with his straight set win over #26 Peter Makk at two singles. The senior captain bested the Trojan 7-6(3) in a first set tiebreaker then only let up one game in the second set, finishing 6-1. Next was Jay Friend who defeated Ryan Colby at five singles, also in straight sets. The Wildcat freshman won his first set 6-3 before securing the second in a tiebreaker 7-6(3).
In the No. 1 spot was #80 Colton Smith who defeated #32 Stefan Dostanic in three fierce sets. Smith fell 5-7 in the first then came back 6-1 in the second set to survive for a third which he also won 6-1. The Wildcat previously faced the Trojan in October 2022 at the ITA Southwest Regionals where Smith took down Dostanic who was ranked #1 in the country at the time. The deciding match fell on the court three where Gustaf Strom battled Wojtek Marek to three spirited sets. Strom took the first 7-5 then fell 3-6 in the second. The Swede swept Marek 6-0 in the final set to give Arizona a lionhearted win.
Strom with the clinch and the celly ????
def. Marek 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 pic.twitter.com/4XCjBpGQL8
— Arizona Men’s Tennis (@ArizonaMTennis) April 2, 2023
Men’s Tennis is now 17-4 heading into their senior week and final two home matches of the regular season. The Wildcats host #64 Oregon on Friday, April 7 at 3 p.m. and #48 Washington on Sunday, April 9 at 12 p.m. MT
Results
#18 Arizona 4, #9 USC 3
Doubles competition
1. Jay Friend and Jonas Ziverts (ARIZ) def. Bradley Frye and Peter Makk (USC) 6-2
2. Wojtek Marek and Samuel Rubell (USC) def. Nick Lagaev and Colton Smith (ARIZ) 6-2
3. Ryan Colby and Stefan Dostanic (USC) def. Eric Padgham and Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles competition
1. #80 Colton Smith (ARIZ) def. #32 Stefan Dostanic (USC) 5-7 6-1 6-1
2. #45 Jonas Ziverts (ARIZ) def. #26 Peter Makk (USC) 6-6 (7-3) 6-1
3. Gustaf Strom…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Arizona Athletics…