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 doing so in straight sets. At two singles, Strom defeated Nolan 6-2, 6-4 to give Arizona its first point. Smith, at one singles, split sets with #103 Stice, falling 5-7 in the first then coming back to win 6-2, 6-1 in the last two sets.
The matches at two, five and six singles also split sets. At five singles, Hoeyeraal won his first set 7-5 against Galka then fell 3-6, 4-6 in the second and third. Friend, at six singles, was bested 2-6, 6-4, 4-6, and Lagaev lost 6-1 in straight sets at four singles.
Next up for Men's Tennis is a doubleheader at home against NAU and #59 Gonzaga on Friday, March 3 at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m MT.
Results
#14 University of Arizona 4, Nebraska 1
Singles competition
1. #45 Jonas Ziverts (ARIZ) def. Roni Hietaranta (NEB) 6-2, 6-4
2. #88 Colton Smith (ARIZ) def. Leo Linquet (NEB) 6-1, 6-2
3. Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) vs. Shunya Maruyama (NEB) 7-5, 3-3, unfinished
4. William Gleason (NEB) def. #117 Herman Hoeyeraal (ARIZ) 7-6 (0-4), 6-2
5. #110 Nick Lagaev (ARIZ) def. Calvin Mueller (NEB) 6-3, 6-3
6. Jay Friend (ARIZ) def. Nic Wiedenhorn (NEB) 6-2, 6-2
#14 Arizona 4, #41 Oklahoma 1
1. Ziverts/Friend def. Schlageter/Anselmo 7 -5
2. Han/Martinez def. Horwood/Smith 7-5
3. Montsi/Hasson def. Strom/Hoeyeraal
Singles competition
1. #88 Colton Smith (ARIZ) def. #121 Alex Martinez (OU) 6-4, 6-2
2. #45 Jonas Ziverts (ARIZ) def. Siphos Montsi (OU) 6-1, 7-5
3. Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) vs. #118 Jordan Hasson (OU) 4-6, 6-2, 5-5, unfinished
4. #110 Nick Lagaev (ARIZ) vs. #71 Nathan Han (OU) 3-6, 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
5. #117 Herman Hoeyeraal (ARIZ) def. #84 Justin Schlageter (OU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Jay Friend (ARIZ) def. Luis Alvarez (OU) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
