TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Men’s tennis fell to rival Alabama in a tight match on Thursday night by a 4-3 score at Alabama Tennis Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After securing the doubles point, the Tigers fell in four singles matches, two in three sets, to lose the match.
In doubles, Nicholas Heng and Jake Kennedy pulled away late in their match to win 6-4 at the No. 3 position for their second straight win together. Auburn’s Alex Frusina and Joey Phillips took an early 3-1 lead over Filip Planinsek and Zach Foster before the Alabama duo came back to tie the match at five. Frusina and Phillips then won each of the next two games to win the match 7-5 and claim the doubles point for the Tigers.
Alabama then bounced back, claiming the opening set on five of six courts to begin singles. Billy Blaydes and Matias Ponce De Leon split sets on court three before Ponce De Leon retired from the match. The Crimson Tide later claimed a straight set victory at the No. 5 position for their first point in the match.
On court four, Hamza Nasridinov overcame a 4-3 deficit in the opening set to Andrii Zimnokh to win it 6-4 by claiming three consecutive games. Nasridinov then jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the second set before Zimnokh earned a break on a deciding point to close the gap. The Auburn freshman ultimately won the set to claim a 6-4, 6-4 victory and extend the lead for the Tigers 3-1.
No. 14 Filip Planinsek of Alabama had to enter a tiebreaker to defeat Will Nolan in the first set, then took that momentum into the second set, winning the match 7-6 (4), 6-2. With the Tigers leading 3-2, both remaining matches on courts two and six were in a third set.
After dropping the first set at the No. 2 singles position to No. 96 Roan Jones, Frusina took a 3-1 lead in the second set. Leading the set 5-4, the Auburn freshman came back from trailing 40-15 in a return game to win and claim the set win. Frusina then took a 5-3 lead in the third set but Jones came back to tie the set at five and ultimately won the match in a tiebreaker.
Alabama’s Damien Nezar won his first set over Heng before the Auburn redshirt sophomore came back with a second set win in a tiebreaker to force a third set. Nezar won a crucial break late in the third set to take a 5-3 lead before Heng responded with a break of his own. The match-deciding set reached a tiebreaker that Nezar won 7-4 to clinch the emotional victory for the Crimson Tide.
The loss drops Auburn’s record to 16-8 overall this season and 6-6 in conference matches. Up next, Auburn will stay on the road to face No. 12 Mississippi State at 1 p.m. CT in Starkville.
#36 Alabama 4, #29 Auburn 3
Singles Results:
- #14 Filip Planinsek (UA) def. Will Nolan (AUB) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
- #96 Roan Jones (UA) def. #57 Alex Frusina (AUB) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4)
- Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. #105 Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) 3-6, 6-0, retired
- Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) def. Andrii Zimnokh (UA) 6-4, 6-4
- Matic Kriznik (UA) def. Joey Phillips (AUB) 6-3, 6-4
- Damien Nezar (UA) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB) 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-4)
Doubles Results:
- #30 Damien Nezar/Andrii Zimnokh (UA) vs. #13 Will Nolan/Billy Blaydes (AUB) 5-5, unfinished
- Joey Phillips/Alex Frusina (AUB) def. Filip Planinsek/Zach Foster (UA) 7-5
- Jake Kennedy/Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Roan Jones/Matic Kriznik (UA) 6-4
Time of match: 3:42; Order of finish: Doubles: 3,2; Singles: 3,5,4,1,2,6