No. 23 Louisville Edged by No. 2 Kentucky

Friday, February 10

LOUISVILLE, KY

5:00 PM

University of Louisville

Kentucky

February 10, 2023 | Men's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

Cards fall 4-3 in thriller

By: Sarah Ennis

LOUISVILLE, Ky -- The University of Louisville men's tennis team fell 4-3 to No. 2 ranked Kentucky Friday evening at Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

"What an unbelievable atmosphere, our fans were amazing," said UofL head coach Rodrigo da Silva. "It came down to the very last match and they beat us by one game right at the last moment. To compete like that against the No. 2 team was amazing. It hurts right now but we will get back to work and get better."

Louisville started the match with a decisive doubles wins at No. 1 and No. 3 to take an early 1-0 lead. On court three, the duo of Etienne Donnet and Sergio Hernandez beat Joshua Lapadat and JJ Mercer 6-1 to give the Cardinals the early lead. The 14th-ranked duo of Natan Rodrigues and Fabien Salle clinched with a 6-3 win over Alafia Ayeni and Liam Draxl to clinch the doubles point for the Cardinals.

Kentucky tied the match in singles at No. 4 after No.115 Taha Baadi defeated No. 121 Matthew Fung 6-1, 6-4.

Louisville quickly reclaimed the lead on court one after No. 47 Natan Rodrigues defeated No. 45 Liam Draxl 6-2, 6-3, handing Draxl his first singles loss of the season.

The Battle of the Bluegrass continued as Kentucky's 66th-ranked player Alafia Ayeni edged out No. 26 Fabien Salle, 7-5, 7-6 (5). Minutes later at No. 3 on court three, No. 53 Etienne Donnett defeated 16th-ranked Joshua Lapadat, 6-4, 6-4 to give Louisville back the lead. Donnet kept his undefeated streak alive, now standing at 7-0 in singles play.

Kentucky tied the match again as Jaden Weekes outlasted Sergio Hernandez, 7-5, 7-5 at No. 5.

With a raucous crowd watching the clinch match, Louisville's David Mizrahi's comeback on Kentucky's 57th-ranked player Charlelie Cosnet fell just short as UK clinched the victory in a three-set thriller, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-5.

The Cardinals return to action on Feb. 12 when they play host to Michigan State and Tennessee State starting at 12:00 p.m. at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

Kentucky vs Louisville Men's Tennis
2/10/2023 at Louisville, Ky.
(Bass-Rudd Tennis Center)
Kentucky 4, Louisville Men's Tennis 3
Singles competition
1. #47 Natan Rodrigues (LOU-MT) def. #45 Liam Drazl (UK) 6-2, 6-3
2. #66 Alafia Ayeni (UK) def. #26 Fabien Salle (LOU-MT) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
3. #53 Etienne Donnet (LOU-MT) def. #16 Joshua Lapadat (UK) 6-4, 6-4
4. Taha Baadi (UK) def. Matthew Fung (LOU-MT) 6-1, 6-4
5. Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Sergio Hernandez (LOU-MT) 7-5, 7-5
6. Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. David Mizrahi (LOU-MT) 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Fabien Salle/Natan Rodrigues (LOU-MT) def. Alafia Ayeni/Liam Draxll (UK) 6-3
2. Matthew Fung/David Mizrahi (LOU-MT) vs. Jaden Weekes/Alexandre LeBlanc (UK) 5-4, unfinished
3. Sergio Hernandez/Etienne Donnet (LOU-MT) def. Joshua Lapadat/JJ Mercer (UK) 6-1
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (,1,3); Singles (4,1,2,3,5,6)