TUCSON, Ariz. - Arizona Men's Tennis fell 3-4 to the Central Florida Knights in the championship match of ITA Kickoff Weekend Sunday afternoon.
The Cats dropped the doubles point after winning 6-1 on court two and falling 4-6 on courts one and three.
Arizona battled back in singles play, taking the lead with wins from
Colton Smith on court one,
Jay Friend on two and
Alexander Rozin on six. At 3-3, the deciding point came down to
Casper Christensen on court four. Christensen fell in the three sets 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.
Arizona will be back on their home courts on February 7 for a doubleheader against Utah State and Loyola Marymount, and again on Feb. 9 against Pepperdine.
Results
Doubles (Order of finish: 2, 3, 1)
1. Branger/Colin def. Smith/Cabrera-Bello 6-4
2. Friend/Padgham def. Dlimi/Sanchez 6-1
3. Benchakroun/Giamichelle def. Gustafsson/Stelse 6-4
Singles (Order of finish: 1, 2, 6, 3, 5, 4)
1. No. 5
Colton Smith def. Paul Colin 6-1, 6-3
2. No. 6
Jay Friend def. Yassine Dlimi 6-3, 6-1
3. Mehdi Benchakroun def. No. 61
Zoran Ludoski 6-1, 6-4
4. Liam Branger def.
Casper Christensen 1-6, 6-1, 6-3
5. Santiago Giamichelle def.
Filip Gustafsson 7-5, 6-3
6.
Alexander Rozin def. Nicolas Oliveira 6-4, 6-1