March 18, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn men's tennis came from behind with a tremendous singles effort to defeat No. 22 Ole Miss 4-3 Friday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center, giving the Tigers their first SEC victory of the spring.
"We showed real heart today after losing the doubles point," said Auburn head coach Eric Shore. "It was tough to lose that doubles point in a tiebreaker, but I thought we really fought back and battled in every singles match. We need to continue to do that in conference matches. It was a good start today."
Although Auburn's top tandem of Marko Krickovic and Max Hinnisdaels were 6-3 winners over Zvonimir Babic and Filip Kraljevic, Ole Miss won the doubles point with a 7-4 tiebreaker edge by Stefan Lindmark and Gustav Hansson over the Tigers' Conner Huertas del Pino and Dante Saleh.
Singles play began outdoors, but after a 27-minute relay, it finished on the indoor courts, and Auburn forged ahead. On court one, Max Hinnisdaels defeated Stefan Lindmark 6-4, 7-5, and a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 win by Olle Thestrup over Ricardo Jorge on court six tied the match at 2-2.
Dante Saleh went to a tiebreaker in his second set on court three against Fabian Fallert, and Saleh prevailed 7-4 to win the match 6-3, 7-6 and give the Tigers a 3-2 lead in the match.
Despite dropping the first set, Conner Huertas del Pino came back to clinch the match with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Filip Kraljevic on court four, putting the Tigers ahead 4-2.
Auburn is now 9-6. The No. 22 Rebels are 7-5 overall and 2-3 in SEC action this spring.
On Sunday, Auburn will play Alabama A&M at 9:30 a.m., before hosting No. 13 Arkansas for an SEC match at 1 p.m. The No. 13 Razorbacks are 13-3 overall and 3-1 in SEC action entering this weekend. Alabama A&M has a record of 0-9 this spring. All home matches are played at the Yarbrough Tennis Center (771 Yarbrough Farms Blvd., Auburn) and admission is free.
Auburn 4, Ole Miss 3
Singles
Max Hinnisdaels (AU) def. Stefan Lindmark (OM) 6-4, 7-5
Gustav Hansson (OM) def. Marko Krickovic (AU) 6-2, 4-6, 4-1 retired
Dante Saleh (AU) def. Fabian Fallert (OM) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
Conner Huertas del Pino (AU) def. Filip Kraljevic (OM) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Grey Hamilton (OM) def. Brandon Laubser (AU) 6-4, 6-4
Olle Thestrup (AU) def. Ricardo Jorge (OM) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
Marko Krickovic/Max Hinnisdaels (AU) def. Zvonimir Babic/Filip Kraljevic (OM) 6-3
Fabian Fallert/Grey Hamilton (OM) def. Brandon Laubser/Olle Thestrup (AU) 6-2
Stefan Lindmark/Gustav Hansson (OM) def. Conner Huertas del Pino/Dante Saleh (AU) 7-6 (7-4)
Length of match: 3:23 (with 0:27 rain delay); Official: Chris Rodger; Order of finish: Doubles: 1,2,3; Singles: 1,5,6,3,4,2