CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini men's tennis took one win and one loss in the first dual matches of the 2024 season on Saturday.
While the Illini beat Toledo 4-0, they came up just short of No. 10 Kentucky, losing 4-3.
"Big credit to Kentucky," head coach Brad Dancer said. "We had a great crowd tonight. It's always a great atmosphere when Atkins is going and a really tough place to play for opposing teams. We won the doubles point after both teams had multiple match points, so we had a lot of momentum on our side but I think Kentucky was just a little bit tougher, a little bit guttier than we were down the stretch.
To be honest, Kentucky deserves a lot of credit. They did a great job coming in here in a tough atmosphere. We have a big challenge ahead of us next week in North Carolina so we'll have to look forward to that and figure some things out."
Toledo
Mathis Debru and Kenta Miyoshi started the momentum for the Illini when they beat Cole Cozens and Matias Olivero, 6-1. Oliver Okonkwo and Lucas Horve clinched the doubles point when they defeated Poonthong Komolpisut and Charlie Snow, 6-1.
Karlis Ozolins gave the Illini another point after beating Marko Galic, 6-2, 6-0. William Mroz followed suit, defeating Komolpisut, 6-1, 6-1.
Heck clinched the match for Illinois when he took down Cozens, 6-4, 6-1.
No. 10 Kentucky
Illinois started the match taking doubles point starting when Horve and Okonkwo defeated Taha Baadi and Matt Rankin 6-1 and was followed by Debru and Miyoshi beating Eli Stephenson and Jaden Weekes 7-6 (8).
Ozolins made quick work of Joshua Lapadat, beating Wildcat 6-3, 6-2. Heck followed suit, taking down Jack Loutit.
After three straight losses from Illinois, Kentucky eventually clinched the match when Baadi took down Miyoshi in three sets, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3.
Illinois will continue their tough schedule at the ITA Kickoff weekend when they take on No. 13 North Carolina on Jan. 26 at 11:30 a.m.
Results
Toledo
Doubles competition
1. #4 Karlis Ozolins/Hunter Heck (ILL) vs. Marko Galic/Pawit Sornlaksup (TOLM24) 3-4, unf.
2. Oliver Okonkwo/Lucas Horve (ILL) def. Poonthong Komolpisut/Charlie Snow (TOLM24) 6-1
3. Kenta Miyoshi/Mathis Debru (ILL) def. Cole Cozens/Matias Olivero (TOLM24) 6-1
Singles competition
1. #17 Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) vs. Pawit Sornlaksup (TOLM24) 5-7, 0-1, unf.
2. Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Marko Galic (TOLM24) 6-2, 6-0
3. Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Cole Cozens (TOLM24) 6-4, 6-1
4. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) vs. Hanamichi Carvajal (TOLM24) 6-2, 5-2, unf.
5. William Mroz (ILL) def. Poonthong Komolpisut (TOLM24) 6-1, 6-1
6. Jeremy Zhang (ILL) vs. Matias Olivero (TOLM24) 6-2, 1-3, unf.
Kentucky
Doubles competition
1. JJ Mercer/Joshua Lapadat (UK) def. #4 Karlis Ozolins/Hunter Heck (ILL) 6-4
2. Lucas Horve/Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Matt Rankin/Taha Baadi (UK) 6-1
3. Kenta Miyoshi/Mathis Debru (ILL) def. Eli Stephenson/Jaden Weekes (UK) 7-6 (10-8)
Singles competition
1. Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Joshua Lapadat (UK) 6-3, 6-2
2. Taha Baadi (UK) def. #17 Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3
3. Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Jack Loutit (UK) 6-4, 6-4
4. Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 6-3, 6-2
5. Eli Stephenson (UK) def. William Mroz (ILL) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. Matt Rankin (UK) def. Jeremy Zhang (ILL) 6-4, 6-1
