Tigers begin fall with strong showing at SEC Challenge

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Auburn started its season by traveling six players to compete against players from other Southeastern Conference schools Friday through Sunday at the SEC Challenge in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

"The weekend gave us a lot of opportunities and matches to see some of the SEC opponents that we'll see in the spring," Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds said on Sunday. "I think we saw some bright spots and we saw some things we need to work on these next couple of weeks and continue to grow. It was nice to see Joey (Phillips), Thomas (Kennedy) and Jake (Kennedy) play in their first matches at Auburn, but now it's time to get back and work on some of the areas that need some improvement."

On Friday, Billy Blaydes and Nicholas Heng teamed up to beat the Oklahoma doubles team of Asahi Harazaki and Hank Trondon 8-4. Blaydes then defeated Trondson in singles while Heng took down Harazaki to win the matchup against the Sooners and advance in their respective draw. The Auburn duo of Joey Phillips and Thomas Kennedy came back after dropping a doubles match to claim a win over Florida with two singles wins. Phillips downed Mattia Akcan 6-0, 6-2 for his first college victory while Kennedy defeated Francesco Cordova 6-1, 6-3 for his first win as a Tiger.

Kennedy picked up another singles victory on Saturday over Ole Miss’ Mattieu Chambonniere while Will Nolan also earned his second singles win of the event with a 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 comeback over Carlos Gimenez Perez of Alabama.

Sunday proved to be a bounce back day for the Tigers. After suffering a matchup loss on Saturday, Heng and Blaydes earned a doubles win over Hugo Coquelin and Henry Ruger of Vanderbilt 8-6 and Heng defeated Coquelin in straight sets to claim third place in the draw.

Phillips and Kennedy also had a doubles win on Sunday, taking down Tighe Brunetti and Giuseppe Cerasulolo of Vanderbilt 8-6. Phillips then beat Brunetti 7-6 (0), 6-0 in a singles match to push the Tiger duo to a matchup win to close the event.

On Monday, freshman Alex Frusina will compete in a professional event at the Fayetteville ITF 15K in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Auburn will then have players participate in the ITA All-American Championships on Sept. 20-29 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event will offer qualifying spots for the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships.

 

Friday Results:

Billy Blaydes/Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Asahi Harazaki/Hank Trondson (OU) 8-4

Nathan Cox/Michael Ross (VANDY) def. Jake Kennedy/Will Nolan (AUB) 8-4

Mattia Akcan/Francesco Cordova (UF) def. Thomas Kennedy/Joey Phillips (AUB) 8-6

Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. Hank Trondson (OU) 6-3,7-6 (5)

Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Asahi Harazaki (OU) 7-5, 6-4

Will Nolan (AUB) def. Nathan Cox (VANDY) 0-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4

Michael Ross (VANDY) def. Jake Kennedy (AUB) 6-2, 7-5

Joseph Phillips (AUB) def. Mattia Akcan (UF) 6-0, 6-2

Thomas Kennedy (AUB) def. Francesco Cordova (UF) 6-1, 6-3

 

Saturday Results:

Kevin Edengren/Magnus Johnson (UF) def. Billy Blaydes/Nicholas Heng (AUB)W 8-3

Carlos Gimenez Perez/Damien Nezar (BAMA) def. Jake Kennedy/Will Nolan (AUB) 8-5

Matthieu Chambonniere/Benjamin Martin (MISS) def. Thomas Kennedy/Joey Phillips (AUB) 8-5

Magnus Johnson (UF) def. Billy Blaydes (AUB) 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-0

Kevin Edengren (UF) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB) 6-3, 6-4

Will Nolan (AUB) def. Carlos Gimenez Perez (BAMA) 1-6, 6-0, 6-3

Damien Nezar (BAMA) def. Jake Kennedy (AUB) 6-4, 6-0

Benjamin Martin (MISS) def. Joey Phillips (AUB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1

Thomas Kennedy (AUB) def. Matthieu Chambonniere (MISS) 6-2, 7-6 (1)

 

Sunday Results:

Billy Blaydes/Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Hugo Coquelin/Henry Ruger (VANDY) 8-6

Roberto Ferrer/Marshall Landry (Mississippi State) def. Jake Kennedy/Will Nolan (AUB) 8-5

Thomas Kennedy/Joey Phillips (AUB) def. Tighe Brunetti/Giuseppe Cerasuolo (VANDY) 8-6

Henry Ruger (VANDY) def. Billy Blaydes (AUB) 7-6 (6), 6-1

Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Hugo Coquelin (VANDY) 6-4, 6-1

Robert Ferrer (MSST) vs. Will Nolan (AUB) walkover

Marshall Landry (MSST) def. Jake Kennedy (AUB) 4-6, 6-3 [10-8]

Joey Phillips (AUB) def. Tighe Brunetti (VANDY) 7-6 (0), 6-0

Giuseppe Cerasuolo (VANDY) def. Thomas Kennedy (AUB) 7-6 (3), 2-6 [10-5]