Cards Fall 4-0 to Florida Atlantic in First Round of ITA Kick-Off Weekend

Saturday, January 26

Gainesville, FL

11:00 a.m.

University of Louisville

Florida Atlantic

Fabien Salle returns the ball during the Home Opener against Lipscomb at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center, January 18, 2019.

Photo by: Dustin Massengill | Louisville Athletics

Cards Fall 4-0 to Florida Atlantic in First Round of ITA Kick-Off Weekend

January 26, 2019 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Louisville will face William & Mary Sunday at 9 a.m. in consolation match

By: Lori Korte

The University of Louisville men's tennis team fell 4-0 to Florida Atlantic in the first round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kick-Off Weekend Saturday afternoon at Florida's Linder Stadium.

"FAU played extremely well and competed hard," said UofL head coach Rex Ecarma. "The doubles point was key. We lost No. 3 then won No. 2 and we were up most of the match at No. 1, but they came back and took it. Fabien and Fede were up in their singles matches when FAU clinched. Our freshmen will continue to get experience and our seniors will get healthier. We play a good William & Mary team tomorrow who pushed host Florida on the other set of courts."

The Owls (4-3) took a highly competitive doubles point to start the match. Louisville senior Federico Gomez and freshman Sergio Ramirez fell 6-2 to Kirac Bekisoglu and Thomas Guy at No. 3. Senior Brandon Lancaster teamed with freshman Alex Wesbrooks evened the tally with a 6-3 win over FAU's Gabriel Sidney and Mehdi Laalej at the two-spot. The first point of the match was decided on court one where Jason Legall and Ignacio Garcia topped senior Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff and Fabien Salle 6-4.

In singles action, FAU picked up straight set wins at Nos. 2 and 6 to push the score to 3-0. At the No. 1 spot, Morin-Kougoucheff bounced back from a 6-3 first-set loss to Jason Legall to register a 6-4 win in the second. Legall took the third set 6-1 to end the match.

Louisville (3-2) will face William & Mary in the ITA Kick-Off consolation match

Florida Atlantic 4, Louisville Men's Tennis 0
Jan 26, 2019 at Gainesville, FL
(Linder Stadium at Alfred A. Ring)
Singles
1. Jason Legall (FAU) def. Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff (LOU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
2. Kirac Bekisoglu (FAU) def. Brandon Lancaster (LOU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Fabien Salle (LOU) vs. Gabriel Sidney (FAU) 7-5, 5-6, unfinished
4. Sergio Ramirez (LOU) vs. Mehdi Laalej (FAU) 7-5, 0-6, 2-3, unfinished
5. Federico Gomez (LOU) vs. Ignacio Garcia (FAU) 6-3, 4-6, 3-2, unfinished
6. A. Fernandez Horta (FAU) def. David Mizrahi (LOU) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles
1. Jason Legall/Ignacio Garcia (FAU) def. Fabien Salle/Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff (LOU) 6-4
2. Brandon Lancaster/Alex Wesbrooks (LOU) def. Gabriel Sidney/Mehdi Laalej (FAU) 6-3
3. Kirac Bekisoglu/Thomas Guy (FAU) def. Federico Gomez/Sergio Ramirez (LOU) 6-2