Alabama
Tulane
Patrick Kaukovalta Takes the Lead, Playing No. 1 for Alabama Men’s Tennis
1/28/2021 5:18:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Kaukovalta closed out last weekend’s ITA Kickoff Weekend with a ranked win while playing No. 1 for UA
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For Patrick Kaukovalta, now in his fourth year playing for the Alabama men's tennis team, the start of the 2021 dual match season brought a new spot in the lineup for the rangy veteran.
After playing primarily at Nos. 2 and 3 in the singles lineup through his first three seasons, Kaukovalta has started out year four playing in the No. 1 spot. Playing at the top of the lineup for the Crimson Tide isn't something he takes for granted, or a spot where he can rest on his laurels.
"Since it's my first time playing No. 1 in the season, I feel like I still haven't completely earned the place so I still have to prove to everyone else and myself that I belong there," Kaukovalta said. "It's something I have to earn each time I'm out there on the court."
In the first competition of 2021, Kaukovalta's confidence took a bit of a knock during the Bama Spring Shootout.
"I feel like at the Bama Spring Shootout, when we played three days in a row and I lost three matches to players from Texas, and they were all pretty close, especially two of them where I had a lot of opportunities … I may have lost a little bit of my confidence," Kaukovalta said.
Even opening the season with back-to-back wins, he didn't feel like his game was where it needed to be.
"It took a little bit of time to get the confidence back in these matches," Kaukovalta said. "Especially in the important points, I was not executing as well as I would have liked to, but then it started working a little bit better and last weekend, especially my last match, was a lot better."
After dropping a tough match to No. 7-ranked Alexis Galarneau of NC State, 7-5, 6-2, at last week's ITA Kickoff Weekend, Kaukovalta got a big win against No. 62-ranked Tim Sandkaulen of Ole Miss, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Getting a ranked win on the road is a good way to bounce back, especially given it was his second win of the 2020-21 season against Sandkaulen, after downing the Rebel in straight sets at the Bulldog Challenge in the fall.
On Friday, Kaukovalta and the Crimson Tide play their third doubleheader of the spring, taking on Tulane at 1 p.m. and Chattanooga at 6 p.m. Both matches are slated to be held indoors at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility.
"I like playing in the tournaments in the fall and the dual matches in the spring," Kaukovalta said. "Both are good when you have your teammates there with you. One difference, when it comes to dual matches, is that it's always a bit more exciting when you compete together with all courts building toward a team win."
Due to health and safety considerations in addition to the current guidelines, attendance at Alabama tennis home indoor competitions are closed to spectators. The matches are slated to be streamed live.
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