Comeback Win Sends Sooners To Semifinals

Friday, February 24

Tuscaloosa, AL

12:30 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

#38 Alabama

Comeback Win Sends Sooners To Semifinals

February 24, 2023 | Men's Tennis

OU 4, UA 3

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Oklahoma men's tennis team defeated Alabama in a comeback 4-3 win on Friday to send the Sooners to the semifinals of the Blue Gray Tennis Classic.

The match opened in singles due to inclement weather. Alabama picked up the first point with a win on court two from No. 51 Enzo Aguiard over Siphos Montsi, 6-1, 6-0. The Sooners bounced back with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win at the No. 3 spot from No. 118 Jordan Hasson against German Samofalov.

The Crimson Tide answered with two back-to-back wins. Yair Sarouk defeated OU's Baptiste Anselmo, 7-5, 6-4, on court six and Roan Jones took down No. 84 Justin Schlageter 6-4, 7-5 at the No. 5 spot.

No. 121 Alex Martinez forced a third set against No. 94 Filip Planinsek to take the top court 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. To close out singles and tie the score 3-3, No. 71 Nathan Han came back and claimed court four 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 over Matias Ponce De Leon.

The match was decided based on doubles play. Han and Martinez defeated Samofalov and Sarouk on court two in a quick 6-0 fashion. Despite losing the top court 6-3 to Alabama's Aguiard and Planinsek over Anselmo and Schlageter, Montsi and Hasson delivered a 6-3 victory on court three over Joao Ferreira and Zach Foster.

OU clinched the 4-3 victory over Alabama to advance to the next round against No. 14 Arizona. The Sooners played the doubles portion against the Wildcats and secured the opening point to give them the advantage going into singles tomorrow.

Arizona claimed the top court with a 7-5 win from Jonas Ziverts and Jay Friend over Anselmo and Schlageter. The Sooners then went on to take back-to-back courts. Han and Martinez defeated Colton Smith and Jared Horwood 7-5 on court two. To clinch the doubles point, Hasson and Montsi took down Gustaf Strom and Herman Hoeyeraal 6-4 at the No. 3 spot.

The match will resume tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. CT in singles to determine the victor.