First Conference Win in the Books

No. 10 TCU

No. 1 Oklahoma

Highlights

Results

2015 Stats

We got a pretty good lead on them and they forced us into third sets. Our guys competed well. Doubles was a lot better. We are really coming around there. All in all it's a good day.
Head Coach John Roddick

NORMAN – The top-ranked Oklahoma men's tennis team opened conference play with a 4-1 win over No. 10 TCU Friday night at the Headington Family Tennis Center. The win is the Sooners' 12^th over a team currently in the ITA top-20.

“It was a good match,” head coach John Roddick said. “TCU played very well and they played hard. We got a pretty good lead on them and they forced us into third sets. Our guys competed well. Doubles was a lot better. We are really coming around there. All in all it's a good day.”

The Sooners, whom improve to 18-1 and 1-0 in conference play, opened the match with strong doubles play and took wins at one and two to grab an early 1-0 lead.

Playing in the number one doubles spot, junior Axel Alvarez and senior Dane Webb, ranked No. 6, squared off with No. 19 Nick Chappell and Will Stein. TCU's pair held serve to take the first game, but Oklahoma would win the next six to take the match 6-1. The win was the duo's eighth this season over a ranked opponent. Alvarez and Webb improve to 14-3 on the year.

Sophomore Alex Ghilea and Andrew Harris delivered the doubles point for Oklahoma when they won 6-3 over No. 18 Cameron Norrie and Trevor Johnson. Harris and Ghilea won three breaks to TCU's one to take the match.

TCU leveled the match at 1-all with a straight sets win from Guillermo Nunez over Webb on court thee. Webb's 6-3, 6-2 loss is just his second of the year in dual play.

Papa put OU up 2-1 with a straight-sets win over Will Stein at number five singles. The freshman picked up his seventh win of the year by a 6-4, 6-3 mark.

We have been good at putting teams in position where they have very little margin for error. When you do that you will come out on top more often than not.
Head Coach John Roddick

“Spencer did a great job getting off the court in straight sets like that,” Roddick said. “I won't say that it was easy but he did a great job of taking care of business and getting us a 2-1 lead. That really put us in a good spot because we had other first sets. That gives them very little wiggle room and that was probably the biggest key to winning today.”

Harris made it 3-1 when he finished off No. 37 Norrie 7-6(7-5), 6-4 at number one singles. Harris is now 11-4 in dual play and has eight wins over ranked opponents.

Despite trailing, TCU would not go without a fight. The Horned Frogs forced third sets at two, four and six singles. With all eyes on the south courts, Oklahoma closed out the win when No. 65 Ghilea broke the serve of Arnau Dachs to win the third set 6-4 and clinch the 4-1 victory.

“I think we were in good position on two courts and I'll never doubt Axel until he loses the last point,” Roddick said. “We have been good at putting teams in position where they have very little margin for error. When you do that you will come out on top more often than not. We don't have a clock so you have to close them out and our guys did that.”

The Sooners are back in action Sunday afternoon as they play host to yet another top-10 opponent. OU is set to face the seventh-ranked Texas Longhorns at 1:00 p.m. Sunday's match will also be streamed live on SoonerSports.tv and as always, admission is free.

For more information on Oklahoma Men's Tennis, follow the team on Twitter at @OU_MTennis.

RESULTS

DOUBLES

#6 Webb/Alvarez def. #19 Chappell/Stein 6-1
Harris/Ghilea def. Norrie/Johnson 6-3
Papa/Bragusi vs. Blake/Lugones 3-4 DNF

Order of finish: 1, 2

SINGLES

#13 Andrew Harris def. #37 Cameron Norrie 7-6(7-5), 6-4
#2 Axel Alvarez vs. #36 Nick Chappell 5-7, 6-4, 2-3 DNF
#76 Guillermo Nunez def. #23 Dane Webb 6-3, 6-2
#65 Alex Ghilea def. Arnau Dachs 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Spencer Papa def. Will Stein 6-4, 6-3
Florin Bragusi vs. 6-3, 6-7(5-7), 3-2 DNF