TUCSON, Ariz.--- Junior Naoki Takeda started off the spring campaign with a bang, as he went 2-0, including earning a huge ranked victory over New Mexico's No. 41 Samir Iftikhar on day one of ITA Kick-Off action, Friday out at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center.
The Wildcats competed right down to the very end, but unfortunately dropped two matches on the day.
MATCH 1: Arizona (0-1) vs. UC Irvine (1-0)
Takeda (9-3, 1-0 Dual) got his superb day started with a convincing straight-set, 7-5, 7-6 victory over UC Irvine's Nico Mertens on court one, while Trevor James (3-1, 1-0 Dual) was dominant from the No. 6 position, as he put together a convincing 6-4, 1-0 (ret.) win over Justin Agbayani to notch two points for Arizona.
Junior Jason Jaruvang (6-5, 0-1 Dual) nearly claimed a third point for the Cats, but dropped a tough three-set affair to Tyler Pham, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6.
UCI would eventually take the opener 4-2.
UC Irvine 4, Arizona 2
SINGLES
1. Naoki Takeda (UA) def. Nico Mertens (UCI) 7-5, 7-6
2. Tyler Pham (UCI) def. Jason Jaruvang (UA) 1-6, 6-4, 7-6
3. Sebastian Heim (UCI) def. Devid Mushayev (UA) 6-1, 6-3
4. Rafael Davidian (UCI) def. Shoki Kasahara (UA) 6-1, 6-2
5. Jonathan Hammel (UCI) def. Matt Dunn (UA) 6-2, 6-2
6. Trevor James (UA) def. Justin Agbayani (UCI) 6-4, 1-0
DOUBLES
None played
MATCH 2: Arizona (0-2) vs. No. 61 New Mexico (2-0)
New Mexico struck first in this one, as Hayden Sabatka earned a 6-2, 6-3 win over Jason Jaruvang on court two (6-6, 0-2 Dual) to claim a 1-0 advantage early.
Trevor James (3-2, 1-1 Dual) couldn't quite claim his second victory of the afternoon, as he fell to James Hignett, 6-3, 6-1 on court five, to sport the Lobos a dangerous 2-0 lead.
However, Arizona refused to give in, as freshman Shoki Kasahara (8-7, 1-1 Dual) came through with a clutch victory from the No. 4 spot, as he easily took down Bart Van Leijsen, 6-3, 6-3, to put the Wildcats right back in the match, down just 2-1 overall.
The Lobos claimed the point on court three to take a 3-1 lead, but Arizona responded once again with its back up against the wall, as Naoki Takeda (10-3, 2-0 Dual) pulled off the upset of the day on court one, taking down No. 41 Samir Iftikhar in a dramatic three-set grind, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
With the point, the Cats pulled within 3-2, hoping to force a winner take all doubles round, but New Mexico as able to clinch the 4-2 victory with a win on court six.
The Wildcats will get back after it tomorrow, as they'll take on No. 41 Texas Tech at 10 am MST and UC Irvine again at 2 pm MST on day two of ITA Kick-Off play.
No. 61 New Mexico 4, Arizona 2
SINGLES
1. Naoki Takeda (UA) def. No. 41 Samir Iftikhar (UNM) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
2. Hayden Sabatka (UNM) def. Jason Jaruvang (UA) 6-2, 6-3
3. Mitchell McDaniels (UNM) def. David Mushayev (UA) 6-3, 6-3
4. Shoki Kasahara (UA) def. Bart Van Leijsen (UNM) 6-3, 6-3
5. James Hignett (UNM) def. Trevor James (UA) 6-3, 6-1
6. Rodolfo Jauregui (UNM) def. Matt Dunn (UA) 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 5, 4, *, 1, 6*
*Clinching point
DOUBLES
None played
