MONTGOMERY, Ala. – #14 Arizona was runner-up in the Blue Gray Tennis Classic after falling 4-2 to #36 Auburn on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Wildcats advanced to the championship round after defeating #41 Oklahoma in the semifinals and Nebraska in the initial round on Friday, Feb. 24.
Round 1: vs. Nebraska
After a rain delay, the ‘Cats started in singles play against Nebraska, taking four of the six matches in straight sets to secure their round one victory. They did not play a round of doubles.
#88 Colton Smith put Arizona’s first point on the board after he defeated Leo Linquet 6-1, 6-2 at two singles. Next off the courts was freshman Jay Friend winning his match against Nic Wiedenhorn 6-2, 6-2 at six singles to extend the Wildcats’ lead. At one singles, #45 Jonas Ziverts defeated Roni Hietaranta 6-2, 6-4, followed by #110 Nick Lagaev who clinched the match for Arizona after beating Calvin Mueller 6-3 in both sets.
Semifinals: vs. Oklahoma
Arizona dropped the doubles point in today’s match against the Sooners. Ziverts/Friend were the only pair to win their match. The senior and freshman pair defeated Anselmo/Schlageter 7-5 at one singles. Horwood/Smith fell 5-7 to Han/Martinez at two singles and Oklahoma finalized the doubles point after Montsi/Van Assendelft defeated Strom/Hoeyeraal.
Despite losing the doubles point, Arizona managed to battle back in singles and defeat the Sooners 4-1. Smith put Arizona on the board after defeating #121 Alex Martinez in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 at one singles. #117 Herman Hoeyeraal extended the Wildcats’ lead to 2-1 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against #84 Justin Schlageter at five singles. Senior captain #45 Ziverts put the ‘Cats one point away from winning the match after he defeated Siphos Montsi 6-1, 7-5 at two singles. And clinching the match for Arizona to send them to the Blue Gray championship round was Friend at six singles who split sets with Luis Alvarez 5-7, 6-4, 7-5.
Championship round vs. #36 Auburn
The Wildcats finished runner-up at the Blue Gray tournament after falling 4-2 to #36 in the championship round. Arizona put up a gritty performance to make their way to the final round for the first time since 2018.
They dropped the doubles point to the Tigers but climbed back in singles. Smith and Strom were the only ‘Cats to win their matches, the Swede…
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