OU Wins Thriller at USTA National Campus

²¹Oklahoma

⁴⁹Kentucky

ORLANDO, Fla. – After dropping the doubles point, the Oklahoma men's tennis team used impressive singles performances by Jake Van Emburgh, Mason Beiler, Alex Bakshi and Max Stewart to put away No. 49 Kentucky 4-3 at the USTA National Campus Sunday.

“Today was a total team effort,” said head coach Nick Crowell of the win. “We played nine different guys in singles and doubles. We knew it was going to take everyone, especially coming back after a very physical match yesterday. Our guys handled the adversity all day and our toughness came through to the end.”

“We got great starts from Beiler and Van Emburgh that got our momentum going. Max and Alex came up big when it was time to win and that's what we need every time to we take the court.”

In doubles, OU's Spencer Papa and Matt Rodriguez made quick work of Fabian Penzkofer and Theo MacDonald at the No. 3 line, winning 6-1 in their first match as a pair.

At the top spot, Bakshi and Ferran Calvo fell to Cesar Bourgois and Enzo Wallart 6-1 to leave the point to be decided by court tow. There, Van Emburgh and Stefano Tsorortiotis dropped to Ryotaro Matsumura and Kento Yamada 6-4 and the Wildcats won the doubles point.

In singles, Kentucky took a 2-0 lead when the Wildcats' Kento Yamada defeated Calvo 6-3, 6-4.

The Sooners answered with a win from Mason Beiler on court five. The Florida native never trailed en route to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over McDonald 6-4, 6-2 to earn a win in his home state and put OU on the board.

Jochen Bertsch fell to Bourgouis 6-3, 6-4 on court four and Kentucky pushed its lead to 3-1, but the Sooners won the final three matches in thrilling fashion to take the contest.

On court two, Van Emburgh routed Wallart 6-3, 6-3.

Alex Bakshi held on for a three-set victory over No. 29 Matsumura, good for his second upset of a ranked opponent this season.

“Alex played with a huge heart today and the courage he showed down breakpoints deep in the third helped elevate us to victory,” Crowell said of the senior.

With the match tied at 3-all, Stewart delivered for the Sooners in a 6-2, 7-6 (5) victory over Kentucky's Parth Aggarwal to clinch the contest. The sophomore cruised through the first set before Aggarwal rallied in the second, but the Sooner prevailed. Stewart has won three matches this season with each of those clinching for the team.

“It was great to see Max finish it off for us and get the clinch,” said Crowell. “He's putting in the work every day at practice and today was his day to step up and win it for the Sooners.”

Up Next

The Sooners return to Norman for a four-match homestand, beginning with Tulsa on March 1. OU will host Florida State (March 3), Memphis (March 8) and Charlotte (March 16) in that stretch.

Results

Singles Results
1. Alex Bakshi (OU) def. #29 Ryo Matsumura (UK) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
2. Jake Van Emburgh (OU) def. Enzo Wallart (UK) 6-3, 6-3
3. Kento Yamada (UK) def. Ferran Calvo (OU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Cesar Bourgois (UK) def. Jochen Bertsch (OU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Mason Beiler (OU) def. Theo McDonald (UK) 6-4, 6-2
6. Max Stewart (OU) def. Parth Aggarwal (UK) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)

Doubles Results
1. Cesar Bourgois/Enzo Wallart (UK) def. Alex Bakshi/Ferran Calvo (OU) 6-1
2. Ryo Matsumura/Kento Yamada (UK) def. Stefano Tsorotiotis/Jake Van Emburgh (OU) 6-4
3. Spencer Papa/Matt Rodriguez (OU) def. Fabian Penzkofer/Theo McDonald (UK) 6-1

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,5,4,2,1,6)

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