TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 17 Auburn fell in a tight rivalry match to No. 56 Alabama by a 4-3 score on Sunday. The back-and-forth match was tied on three different occasions after the doubles point.
The Tigers started off hot during the doubles point. Tyler Stice and Alejandro Moreno shut out Joao Ferreira and Matias Ponce De Leon on court three 6-0 for their 10th dual match victory together.
Auburn's highest ranked doubles team of Raul Dobai and Finn Murgett, 30th in the nation, defeated No. 78 Filip Planinsek and German Samofalov 6-4 to claim the doubles point for the Tigers.
Auburn and Alabama split the first set of singles, as Auburn took a one set lead on courts one, four and six. Alabama's Ponce De Leon tied the match by defeating Finn Murgett 6-3, 6-1. Stice, the 59th ranked singles player according to the ITA, then took the team lead back by finishing an impressive 6-4, 6-4 victory over Planinsek. The win marked Stice's fourth dual singles victory over a ranked opponent this season.
The Crimson Tide then tied the match again with a two-set victory on court two before senior Jan Galka picked up his eighth dual singles win of the year on court four over German Samofalov by a 6-4, 6-2 score. Galka's win gave the Tigers a 3-2 advantage.
Dobai and Billy Blaydes both lost in close three-set matches, which led to the 4-3 Alabama victory.
With the team win, Alabama improves their overall record to 10-14 and picks up their second SEC victory. Auburn falls to 17-8 overall and 5-5 in conference play.
Up next, Auburn will travel to face No. 45 LSU on Friday evening at 5 p.m. CT.
Auburn will host the 2023 SEC men's tennis championship tournament April 19-23 at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. All-tournament ticket books are on sale now at aubtix.com. Daily tickets may be purchased on site.
#57 Alabama 4, #17 Auburn 3
Singles Results:
1. #59 Tyler Stice (AUB) def. #76 Filip Planinsek (UA) 6-4, 6-4
2. #116 Enzo Aguiard (UA) def. #109 Alejandro Moreno (AUB) 6-3, 6-4
3. Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) def. Finn Murgett (AUB) 6-3, 6-1
4. Jan Galka (AUB) def. German Samofalov (UA) 6-4, 6-2
5. Roan Jones (UA) def. Raul Dobai (AUB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
6. Zach Foster (UA) def. Billy Blaydes (AUB) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Doubles Results:
1. #30 Raul Dobai/Finn Murgett (AUB) def. #78 Filip Planinsek/German Samofalov (UA) 6-4
2. Enzo Aguiard/Zach Foster (UA) vs. Jan Galka/Billy Blaydes (AUB) 5-5, unfinished
3. Tyler Stice/Alejandro Moreno (AUB) def. Joao Ferreira/Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles: 3,1; Singles: 3,1,2,4,6,5
