Alabama
#5 Texas A&M
Alabama Men’s Tennis Sets Sights on No. 5 Texas A&M in Round of 16
5/16/2018 10:25:00 AM | Men's Tennis
The Crimson Tide will take on the Aggies on Friday at 6 p.m. CT in Winston-Salem, N.C.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 42 Alabama men's tennis team is set to take on No. 5 Texas A&M in the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 6 p.m. CT at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex on the campus of Wake Forest University. The winner will take on either No. 13 Florida or No. 38 Ole Miss on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT.
The Crimson Tide has advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007 and the fourth time in program history after defeating No. 23 Tulane and No. 11 Florida State in the Tallahassee Regional. Alabama is 0-3 all-time in the Round of 16.
The Tide is taking on the Aggies for the second time this season, with A&M besting UA 5-2 on March 25 in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M defeated Lamar 4-0 and No. 18 Baylor 4-1 at home to make its 14th Round of 16 appearance in program history. The Aggies have made the Sweet 16 in back-to-back seasons and three of the last four.
The play of sophomore Alexey Nesterov has been a big part of Alabama's recent success. Since postseason play began, Nesterov is 5-0 in singles competition and 5-0 in doubles matches with partner sophomore Thibault Cancel. The Moscow, Russia native, leads the team with a 20-7 record in the dual match season.
Alabama has won the doubles point in 24 out of 32 matches so far this season, including winning its last five. The play of Nesterov/Cancel along with sophomore Zhe Zhou and partner Patrick Kaukovalta who are also 5-0 in postseason competition has led to the Tide's doubles point win streak.
In singles play, No. 10 Mazen Osama is 4-0 in his last six singles matches. The first Alabama All-American since 2001 is 9-6 against nationally-ranked opponents will take on No. 5 Patrick Kypson who Osama defeated earlier this season, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3). Sophomore Edson Ortiz has stepped up his play this season, earning All-SEC Second Team honors, while going 18-6 in singles.
In addition to Kypson, the Aggies have numerous players in the national rankings. Arthur Rinderknech comes in at No. 12, Jordi Arconada is No. 48 and Valentin Vacherot is No. 71. Texas A&M also has several doubles pairs ranked, Juan Carlos Aguilar/Arconada are No. 3 in the country, Rinderknech/Kypson No. 52 and Arconada/Kevin Lam No. 65.
A live stream and live stats will be available for the match through the tournament central page on Wake Forest's website.
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