WACO, Texas - In the third meeting between the coast-to-coast programs, the No. 18 UCF men’s tennis team fell to No. 11 Arizona for the first time this season, ending its Big 12 Championship run in the title decider, 4-1.
While what seemed to be a defining moment as the fourth-seeded Knights took the early lead, the Wildcats were dominant from start to finish in singles, claiming the rematch and their first conference title.
The deciding point between the two programs in each of their contests this season, UCF didn’t let the opportunity pass them, prevailing in an hour-long doubles epic.
It took five games on each court for the first break to occur, as Arizona’s Alexander Rozin and Colton Smith carried the momentum into a 6-3 win over Yassine Dlimi and Emilio Sanchez. Fending off multiple match points on three, the tide turned after Mehdi Benchakroun and Santiago Giamichelle broke Casper Christensen and Filip Gustafsson late, eventually leveling the point, 7-5, with their third win over the Wildcats this season.
Just as the winner on three fell, the Knights were embarking on a winner-take-all tiebreak on court one. Liam Branger, making his first appearance alongside Paul Colin since last month, was clinical on serve, pushing the French tandem towards the clincher. Taking center stage, the 61st-ranked duo prevailed 7-6(5) over 62nd-ranked Jay Friend and Eric Padgham to give UCF the advantage early on.
Arizona began singles play as if a double point wasn’t even played, taking five first sets to secure a clear road ahead. Benchakroun was the lone Knight to claim his opener, defeating 99th-ranked Ludoski, 7-5.
The Wildacts snatched the lead just over an hour into the second session, with fifth-ranked Friend besting Branger by two seconds after Christensen took his court-six bout with last night’s hero, Nicolas Oliveira.
Just under 24 hours after defeating seventh-ranked Jack Pinnington, 82nd-ranked Dlimi battled throughout his court-one duel with fourth-ranked Colton Smith, falling to the world No. 166, 6-3, 6-3.
Arizona found the clinching point shortly after on court five, with Giamichelle falling to Rozin, 6-3, 6-3.
UP NEXT
With its semifinals triumph over No. 2 TCU on Saturday, the 18th-ranked Knights will look to move into the top-16 and welcome three teams to the USTA National Campus for the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament. The selection show is set for next Monday, April 28.
Singles Results
- #4 Colton Smith (ARIZ) def. #82 Yassine Dlimi (UCF) 6-3, 6-3
- #5 Jay Friend (ARIZ) def. Liam Branger (UCF) 6-2, 6-4
- #80 Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) vs. #99 Zoran Ludoski (ARIZ) 7-5, 0-3, unfinished
- Paul Colin (UCF) vs. Filip Gustafsson (ARIZ) 2-6, 4-5
- Alexander Rozin (ARIZ) def. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) 6-3, 6-3
- Casper Christensen (ARIZ) def. Nicolas Oliveira (UCF) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles Results
- #61 Liam Branger/Paul Colin (UCF) def. #62 Jay Friend/Eric Padgham (ARIZ) 7-6(5)
- Alexander Rozin/Colton Smith (ARIZ) def. Yassine Dlimi/Emilio Sanchez (UCF) 6-3
- Mehdi Benchakroun/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Casper Christensen/Filip Gustafsson (ARIZ) 7-5