ATHENS, Ga. – Auburn claimed a 4-0 victory over Louisiana during the second day of ITA Kickoff Weekend on Monday in Athens, Georgia.
The top Tigers doubles team of Finn Murgett and Raul Dobai earned their first victory of the season against Vasil Dimitrov and Sacha Grandvincent 6-2. Moments later, Will Nolan and Billy Blaydes picked up their second dual match win of the season on court two and claimed the doubles point for the Tigers.
Dobai picked up right where he left off in singles, earning a quick 6-2 opening set victory over Dimitrov while Tyler Stice and Nicholas Heng also recorded first set wins.
Raul Dobai gets singles started with an opening set win 💪
— Auburn Men's Tennis (@AuburnMTennis) January 29, 2024
📺📊 https://t.co/gbiWAXWaa8 pic.twitter.com/YgJm8HLU0Y
Heng's match against Leonard Tramolay was the first to finish, as the redshirt freshman took the win by a 6-1, 6-4 score to give the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.
After dropping the second set on court two, Dobai came back by winning four consecutive games in a decisive third set over Dimitrov. The senior ultimately won the set 6-1 to give Auburn a 3-0 lead. On court one, Tyler Stice trailed Al Sanchez Gonzalez 3-2 during the second set, but came back to tie the set 5-5 and eventually win 7-5. The 7-5, 7-5 victory for Stice marked his third singles dual match win of the season and clinched the team victory.
The victory improves Auburn's record to 3-1 and the loss drops Louisiana's record to 0-5 this season.
The Tigers have back-to-back road matches next on the schedule, traveling to play Wisconsin on Feb. 9 and Notre Dame on Feb. 11.
Auburn 4, Louisiana 0
Singles Results:
1. #53 Tyler Stice (AUB) def. Al Sanchez Gonzalez (UL) 7-5, 7-5
2. #78 Raul Dobai (AUB) def. Vasil Dimitrov (UL) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
3. Alejandro Moreno (AUB) vs. William Ribero (UL) 7-6 (7-0), 2-0, unfinished
4. Billy Blaydes (AUB) vs. Oriol Fillat Gimenez (UL) 3-6, 6-4, 2-1, unfinished
5. Will Nolan (AUB) vs. Alejo Ferrer Chueca (UL) 3-6, 5-6, unfinished
6. Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Leonard Tramolay (UL) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles Results:
1. Raul Dobai/Finn Murgett (AUB) def. Vasil Dimitrov/Sacha Grandvincent (UL) 6-2
2. Will Nolan/Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. Leonard Tramolay/Al Sanchez Gonzalez (UL) 6-4
3. Nicholas Heng/Tyler Stice (AUB) vs. Oriol Fillat Gimenez/William Ribero (UL) 4-5, unfinished
Time of match: 2:31; Order of finish: Doubles: 1,2; Singles: 6,2,1; Official: Karen Badger-Mabry