Alabama Men’s Tennis Comes up Short in 4-3 Battle to Texas A&M

Thursday, March 23

College Station, Texas

4 p.m. CT

Alabama

Texas A&M

Alabama Men’s Tennis Comes up Short in 4-3 Battle to Texas A&M

3/23/2023 9:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

The Crimson Tide will now travel to Baton Rouge for a Sunday matchup with the LSU Tigers

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Alabama men's tennis program (9-10, 1-5 SEC) dropped a 4-3 battle to No. 18 Tennessee (11-7, 4-2 SEC) Thursday afternoon at the Mitchell Tennis Center.

Texas A&M jumped out to an early 1-0 lead by securing the doubles point after winning courts one and two, respectively. The Crimson Tide duo of Joao Ferreira and Matias Ponce De Leon were leading, 6-5, on court three when the doubles point was clinched.

In singles play, Ponce De Leon would claim Alabama's first win of the day via a straight-set 6-3, 6-2 performance on court three to give the Tide its first point of the match. Filip Planinsek would bring Alabama within one after outlasting his opponent on court one (3-6, 6-2, 7-5) before Zach Foster tied the match at 3-3 after a three-set victory on court six (5-7, 6-3, 6-0).

With one court left to play, Alabama's No. 83 Enzo Aguiard took Texas A&M's No. 65 Raphael Perot to three sets. Despite the effort, Aguiard would fall 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on court two, as the Aggies claimed the match-clinching point.

Head Coach George Husack Said:

"Our guys put forth quite an effort today in a classic seesaw match. I'm proud of how they embraced the moment after losing the doubles and put themselves in a position to steal the victory. Zach's turnaround in sets two and three was impressive, especially playing in his home state and at a school that recruited him hard."

"I'm glad that Enzo kept his gloves up in front of a loud home crowd with the match on the line. While the match didn't go his way, he continued to show poise and persistence. The Aggies are tough at home and had better resolve today. So we learn and move on, recognize our continued improvement and stay hungry for the next opportunity."

Match at Texas A&M

Texas A&M outlasted Alabama to emerge victorious in doubles play after clinching the opening points with wins on court one and two, respectively
The Aggies took a 2-0 match lead after Giulio Perego defeated German Samofalov, 6-2, 6-2 on court four
Alabama's Ponce De Leon cut into that lead via a 6-3, 6-2 victory on court three
The Aggies and the Tide would alternate points as Texas A&M won court five in straight sets, followed by a three-set Planinsek victory on court one
Zach Foster tied the match at three-all after winning 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 on court six
No. 65 Perot grabbed Texas A&M's fourth and final point on court two (3-6, 6-2, 6-4)

Up Next

Alabama will return to action Sunday, March 26, in a road match against the LSU Tigers
First serve is set for 12 p.m. CT

Results at Texas A&M

Doubles

1 | #39 Trey Hilderbrand/Noah Schachter (TAM) def. German Samofalov/Filip Planinsek (UA) 6-2
2 | Pierce Rollins/Kenner Taylor (TAM) def. Zach Foster/Enzo Aguiard (UA) 7-5
3 | Joao Ferreira/Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) vs, Giulio Perego/Raphael Perot (TAM) 6-5, unfinished

Order of finish (1, 2)

Singles

1| #88 Filip Planinsek (UA) def. #38 Noah Schachter (TAM) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
2| #65 Raphael Perot (TAM) def. #83 Enzo Aguiard (UA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
3| Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) def. #104 Pierce Rollins (TAM) 6-3, 6-2
4| Giulio Perego (TAM) def. German Samofalov (UA) 6-2, 6-2
5| Guido Marson (TAM) def. Roan Jones (UA) 6-4, 6-4
6| Zach Foster (UA) def. Luke Casper (TAM) 5-7, 6-3, 6-0

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

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