AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn men’s tennis completed its second shutout of Alabama A&M in as many days Sunday, earning a 4-0 victory at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. The win improved the Tigers’ record to 5-0 this season.
“It was a good weekend leading up to ITA Kickoff Weekend,” Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds said. “We have a lot of things we can take from this weekend. From a doubles standpoint, we still have to be a little bit sharper. I’m happy to get through the weekend with some wins and am looking forward to next week.”
Auburn featured a fresh look in its doubles lineup Sunday, with Alabama A&M earning a win on court two. Freddy Blaydes and Joey Phillips responded with a 6-1 victory on the top doubles court to set up a winner-take-all match on court three for the doubles point. With the score tied at five games apiece, Thomas Kennedy and Manel Lazaro won the next two games to secure a 7-5 win and claim the doubles point for the Tigers.
Lazaro continued his impressive start to the spring, not dropping a game at the No. 6 singles position against Lebogang Mashego to give Auburn an early 2-0 lead. Freddy Blaydes followed with his second dual match singles victory of the season at the No. 3 position, winning 6-2, 6-0.
Auburn senior Billy Blaydes dominated his opening set against Tasso Moreira on court two, winning 6-0, then carried that momentum into the second set to earn a 6-3 win and clinch the match for the Tigers.
Up next, Auburn will travel to Starkville, Mississippi, to compete in ITA Kickoff Weekend for a spot in the 2026 ITA National Team Indoor Championship in February. The Tigers will face Alabama on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT before playing either UC Santa Barbara or Mississippi State on Sunday.
Auburn 4, Alabama A&M 0
Singles Results:
- #40 Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) vs. Arnav Pathange (AAMUM) 6-4, 2-0, unfinished
- #36 Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. Tasso Moreira (AAMUM) 6-0, 6-3
- Freddy Blaydes (AUB) def. E Andretta (AAMUM) 6-2, 6-0
- Joey Phillips (AUB) vs. Juwan Bae (AAMUM) 6-6 (3-1), unfinished
- Thomas Kennedy (AUB) vs. Goran Krivokapic (AAMUM) 6-4, 5-1, unfinished
- Manel Lazaro (AUB) def. Lebogang Mashego (AAMUM) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles Results:
- Freddy Blaydes/Joey Phillips (AUB) def. Arnav Pathange/Goran Krivokapic (AAMUM) 6-1
- E Andretta/Tasso Moreira (AAMUM) def. Billy Blaydes/Jake Kennedy (AUB) 6-1
- Thomas Kennedy/Manel Lazaro (AUB) def. Juwan Bae/Agustin Marquez (AAMUM) 7-5
Time of match: 2:30 Order of finish: Doubles: 2,1,3; Singles: 6,3,2 Official: Donna Jerome