Tigers eliminate Hogs 4-1

LEXINGTON, Ky.— The University of Arkansas men’s tennis team opened the first round of play at the SEC Championship at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex in Lexington, Ky on Thursday morning. Rain delays extended to match to over five hours but No. 37 Auburn Tigers eventually won, 4-1.

In doubles action, the senior duo of Taylor King and Bradwin Williams came out on fire dominating at the No. 2 position over Meis and Monteiro. The Arkansas tandem took the early 2-0 lead and continued to overpower Meis and Monteiro the entire match. Williams closed the match with a down the line winner to take the match, 8-5. On court three, the duo freshman duo of Gregoire Lehmann and Mike Ward fought hard but fell to Lucas Lopasso and Tim Hewitt, 8-5. The final decision came down to a heated battle on the top court between the duo Christopher Nott and Matthew Hogan and Tim Puetz and Alex Stamchev. The Wildcats clinched the doubles point as Puetz and Stamchev defeated Hogan and Nott, 8-4.

Next up the Hogs look to return for singles play but the rain continued to fall suspending match play. Andy Meis defeated Bradwin Williams at the No. 6 singles position, 6-1, 6-1. Auburn now held a 2-0 lead over the Hogs. Highlighting the match was Ward at the No. 5 singles position with the Hogs lone singles win. He grinded the baseline and earned a straight set victory over Oliver Strecker, 6-3, 7-5. He earned his 14th win of the season and finished with a 4-2 SEC record and 14-7 overall record.

On court two, Hogan won the first set and was continuing to hold serve in the second set. On the remaining courts, the Tigers momentum continued strong as they picked up wins at No. 4 and No.1 singles positions over Zogaj and Nott. On the top court, Nott and Puetz battled hard but eventually Puetz won, 6-4, 6-4.

Singles

Order of Finish: 6,5,3,1*

No. 20 Tim Puetz (AU) def. Christopher Nott (UA) 6-4, 6-4

Matt Hogan (UA) vs. Alex Stamchev (AU) 7-6(5), 5-6

Tim Huetz (AU) def. Nikolas Zogaj (UA) 6-4, 7-5

Gregoire Lehmann (UA) vs. Lucas Lopasso (AU) 6-3, 3-6, 0-4

Mike Ward (UA) def. Oliver Strecker (AU) 6-3, 7-5

Andy Meis (AU) def. Bradwin Williams (UA) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

Order of Finish: 2,3,1*

Puetz/Stamchev (AU) def. Nott/Hogan (UA) 8-4

Taylor King/Bradwin Williams (UA) def. Meis/Monteiro (AU) 8-5

Hewitt/Lopasso (AU) def. Lehmann/Ward (UA) 8-5