Alabama Downs Mercer, Samford to Open Dual-Match Season

Saturday, January 15

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

1 p.m. CT

Alabama

Mercer

Photo by: Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

Alabama Downs Mercer, Samford to Open Dual-Match Season

1/15/2022 9:44:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Crimson Tide defeated Mercer 6-1, before topping Samford 5-2 on the opening day

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. –– The Alabama men's tennis team (2-0) captured a pair of wins on Saturday, downing Mercer (0-1) and Samford (0-1) at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility to open the season 2-0. The Crimson Tide started the day with a 6-1 win over the Bears before securing a come-from-behind win in the final two matches against the Bulldogs to take a 5-2 victory.

The doubles pairing of Juan Martin and Filip Planinsek recorded wins against Mercer and Samford, while Planinsek, Enzo Aguiard, Rudi Christiansen and Zach Foster went undefeated in singles play.

It was the fifth consecutive year that Alabama has swept its opening day double header and the eighth time in nine years.

Gallery: (1-15-2022) 01-15-22 MTE vs Mercer

From Head Coach George Husack

"I'm pleased with the overall performance of the team today. We were put into some tough situations by both opponents, and many of the guys responded well, particularly Rudi, Enzo and Filip. I was impressed by our doubles play and our ability to stay relatively calm, willing and confident throughout the day. Back to work on Monday to prepare for the Pokes next Saturday."

That finish at the net by Enzo Aguiard against Mercer ?? ??#RollTide | #ThatsBama| #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/lEmm3G6ejN
— Alabama Men's Tennis (@AlabamaMTN) January 16, 2022

Alabama def. Mercer (6-1)

The Crimson Tide jumped out to a quick start with Martin and Planinsek taking a 6-1 win over David Georgadze and Lucas Wayenburg at No. 1 doubles
Aguiard and Joao Ferreira followed clinching the doubles point moments later with a 6-1 win against Danny Flynn and Samuel Macleod at No. 3
In singles play, Aguiard was the first Crimson Tide player to secure a point, taking a two-set 6-1, 6-1 win against Samuel Barrow on court four
Foster went 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 6 singles spot against Alexandr Koliev, while German Samofalov defeated Danny Flynn with mirroring 6-3, 6-3 scores on court three for the deciding point
After taking a 6-3 win in set one, Planinsek battled to capture the second set 7-6 (4) at the top of the order against Lucas Wayenburg as Christiansen rounded out the match with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Samuel Macleod at the No. 5 spot

Alabama def. Samford (5-2)

Alabama came away with an exciting match win against the Bulldogs as the team saw come-from-behind wins from Planinsek and Foster to close the match
The Tide again secured the doubles point as Aguiard and Ferreira defeated Jim Hendrix and Harrison Williams 6-3 at No. 2 to start the match as Martin and Planinsek followed with a 7-5 victory at No. 1 against Eladio Fabregas and Will Gray
The Bulldogs captured the first singles point on court three, but Christiansen moved the Tide ahead 2-1 with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Gray at No. 5
Samford would again take the next point, but a two-set, 6-3, 6-3 win over J.B. Pickard from Aguiard at No. 4 held the one-point lead for Alabama
Alabama dropped the opening set on the final two courts, but a come-from-behind win from Planinsek at No. 1 clinched the win as Foster added on with a come-from-behind victory at No. 6
Planinsek defeated Hendrix 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, while Foster went 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 against Williams

Up Next

Alabama will host Oklahoma State on Saturday, Jan. 22 as the team closes out a three-game homestand to start the season. The match will start 6 p.m. CT at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility.

Results

Mercer Doubles:

No. 16 Juan Martin/Filip Planinsek (UA) def. David Georgadze/ Lucas Wayenburg (MU) 6-1
Patrick Kaukovalta/ German Samofalov (UA) vs. Samuel Barrow/Andrew Branicki (MU) 5-3 DNF
Enzo Aguiard/Joao Ferreira (UA) def. Danny Flynn/ Samuel Macleod (MU) 6-1

Order of Finish (1,3)

Mercer Singles:

No. 83 Filip Planinsek (UA) def. Lucas Wayenburd (MU) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
David Georgadze (MU) def. Juan Martin (UA) 6-2, 3-6, 10-4
German Samofalov (UA) def. Danny Flynn (MU) 6-3, 6-3
Enzo Aguiard (UA) def. Samuel Barrow (MU) 6-1, 6-1
Rudi Christiansen (UA) def. Samuel Macleod (MU) 6-3, 7-5
Zach Foster (UA) def. Alexandr Koliev (MU) 6-3, 6-2

Order of Finish (4, 6, 3, 1, 2, 5)

Samford Doubles:

No. 16 Juan Martin/Filip Planinsek (UA) def. Eladio Fabregas/Will Gray (SAM) 7-5
Enzo Aguiard/ Joao Ferreira (UA) def. Jim Hendrikx/Harrison Williams (SAM) 6-3
Rudi Christiansen/Zach Foster (UA) vs. Mohammed Ali Bellalouna/J.B. Pickard (SAM) 6-6 (4-2) DNF

Order of Finish: (2,1)

Samford Singles:

No. 83 Filip Planinsek (UA) def. Jim Hendrikx (SAM) 4-6, 7-5, 6-0
Mohammed Ali Bellalouna (SAM) def. Juan Martin (UA) 6-1, 6-2
Eladio Fabregas (SAM) def. German Samofalov (UA) 6-2, 6-1
Enzo Aguiard (UA) def. J.B. Pickard (SAM) 6-3, 6-3
Rudi Christiansen (UA) def. Will Gray (SAM) 6-2, 6-3
Zach Foster (UA) def. Harrison Williams (SAM) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4

Order of Finish: (3, 5, 2, 4, 1, 6)

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