STARKVILLE, Miss. – Auburn men’s tennis opened its fall season in championship form as the Tigers went 2-1 against Mississippi State, Alabama and Vanderbilt to win the SEC Starkvegas Showdown at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre.
“Our guys showed that under pressure they're willing to step up, play to win and play with trust in those moments,” associate head coach Trey Morris said. “That’s what ultimately let us be able to hoist trophies this weekend. This is a young group that still has a lot to learn. We still have areas we can continue to improve and grow for long-term success. We’re excited to get back to Auburn and take some of the data we’ve gathered this weekend and implement that into practice this week.”
Taking on the host Bulldogs to begin the weekend, Auburn earned a pair of straight-set singles victories from freshman duo Patrik Munkhammar and Alvaro Jimenez while also adding a doubles triumph.
Munkhammar defeated Segundo Goity Zapico 6-3, 6-2, while Jimenez earned a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes. Jimenez also teamed with junior Joey Phillips to defeat Jacopo Borsoi and Luigi Valletta 6-3 in doubles action. The Tigers won the tiebreaker to clinch the 4-3 victory.
On Saturday, Munkhammar led the Tigers with a pair of singles victories and a doubles win against in-state foe Alabama. The freshman battled past Rohan Hazratwala 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to earn his first victory of the afternoon before defeating Yoshka Sborowsky 6-2, 6-3. Munkhammar and Phillips also earned a dominant 6-0 doubles victory over Hazratwala and Aleksander Blus as Auburn clinched the head-to-head battle 4-3 after a tiebreaker win.
Phillips led Auburn on Sunday with wins in both singles and doubles action against Vanderbilt. Phillips and Munkhammar earned a 6-3 doubles victory over Donghyun Hwang and Danil Panarin, allowing Phillips to finish the weekend undefeated in doubles action. He followed with a straight-set singles win, defeating Roth Shanoth 6-3, 7-5. The Commodores earned a 3-2 victory, but the Tigers clinched the tournament crown.
Fall competition continues Monday as four Tigers represent Auburn at the M15 Columbia Futures in Columbia, South Carolina. Duje Markovina, Manel Lazaro, Tyler Bowers and Iker Urribarrens will compete in qualifying action with six spots in the main draw still available. World Tennis Tour will provide live results throughout the week.
FRIDAY RESULTS | VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
Joey Phillips/Alvaro Jimenez (AUB) def. Jacopo Borsoi/Luigi Valletta (MSST) 6-3
Patrik Munkhammar (AUB) def. Segundo Goity Zapico (MSST) 6-3, 6-2
Alvaro Jimenez (AUB) def. Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes (MSST) 6-4, 6-1
Roberto Ferrer Guimaraes/Segundo Goity Zapico (MSST) def. Jake Kennedy/Patrik Munkhammar (AUB) 6-4
Luigi Valletta (MSST) def. Alvaro Jimenez (AUB) 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Jacopo Borsoi (MSST) def. Joey Phillips (AUB) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
SATURDAY RESULTS | VS. ALABAMA
Joey Phillips/Patrik Munkhammar (AUB) def. Rohan Hazratwala/Aleksander Blus (ALA) 6-0
Patrik Munkhammar (AUB) def. Rohan Hazratwala (ALA) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Patrik Munkhammar (AUB) def. Yoshka Sborowsky (ALA) 6-2, 6-3
Yoshka Sborowsky/Theo Hegarty (ALA) def. Jake Kennedy/Alvaro Jimenez (AUB) 6-2
Aleksander Blus (ALA) def. Alvaro Jimenez (AUB) 6-1, 6-2
Theo Hegarty (ALA) def. Joey Phillips (AUB) 6-2, 6-3
SUNDAY RESULTS | VS. VANDERBILT
Joey Phillips/Patrik Munkhammar (AUB) def. Donghyun Hwang/Danil Panarin (VU) 6-3
Joey Phillips (AUB) def. Roth Shanoth (VU), 6-3, 7-5
Jack Shatterfield/ Roth Shanoth (VU) def. Jake Kennedy/Alvaro Jimenez (AUB) 6-3
Donghyun Hwang (VU) def. Alvaro Jimenez (AUB) 6-0, 6-3
Danil Panarin (VU) def. Patrik Munkhammar (AUB) 6-0, 6-2