Martinez Named Big 12 Player of the Week for Third Time This Season

NORMAN - Oklahoma fifth-year senior and No. 20 Alex Martinez was named the Big 12 Player of the week for the third time this season, the conference announced Tuesday.

Martinez began conference play with two wins on the road. He earned his seventh straight win in dual play and picked up his fifth straight win against a ranked opponent.

The Sooners' one singles player took down the nation's No. 56 Olle Wallin in straight sets to lead the team to a sweep over Texas Tech. Martinez and doubles partner fifth-year senior Baptiste Anselmo were tied with the No. 41 pair of Sebastian Abboud and Piotr Pawlak in the match against the Red Raiders when doubles play was stalled.

Martinez picked up another win at the one line over BYU's Jack Barnett to clinch the match for the Sooners over the Cougars. Along with Anselmo, the pair picked up a win at one doubles to help the Sooners take the doubles point in the match and improve their record to 5-1 as a pair.

The wins from the weekend send Martinez's season singles record to 11-2. Of the five consecutive ranked wins, three have been over top-30 ranked opponents.

The strong performances by Martinez and the rest of the Sooners resulted in a national team ranking of 22 this week and a 2-0 start to conference play.

Martinez's Big 12 Player of the Week honor is the third for the Sooners this season and marks Martinez's fifth Big 12 Player of the Week award in his career.