FAYETTEVILLE — Vanderbilt men’s tennis traveled to Fayetteville on Friday and came up short against the Razorbacks, posting a 7-0 loss in the second SEC match of the season at the Billingsley Tennis Center.
Coach Scott Brown shared his thoughts on the match, “I want to give credit to Arkansas. They played a good match and had a great college atmosphere. We aren’t at full strength at the moment, but this program will get there. It just takes time.”
The Razorbacks claimed the lead early on, clinching the doubles point when Connor Robb-Wilcox and Danil Panarin fell 7-5 to the Hogs duo of Melvin Manuel and Alan Sau Franco. Just prior, Joubert Klopper and Michael Ross were defeated by their Razorback opponents, Jared Horwood and Bozo Barun, by a 6-3 score. Jeremie Casabon and Hugo Coquelin’s match went unfinished at 6-5.
Singles began with Arkansas grabbing another point after Gerard Planelles overcame Klopper in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Shortly after, Benedikt Emesz defeated Coquelin on Court 5 in the third set and the Hogs led 3-0. Casabon fell to Manuel on Court 3, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6), as did Alexandre Hillhouse on Court 6 to his Razorback opponent. Ross and Panarin both forced third sets, and fell to Stefanos Savva and Barun, respectively.
“We are going to get back up, rise again tomorrow morning and do an insane job of preparing and making marginal gains for Alabama on Sunday. This is what our culture is about,” said Brown.
Singles
1. Barun (Arkansas) def. No. 57 Panarin 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
2. Planelles (Arkansas) def. Klopper 6-1, 6-3
3. Manuel (Arkansas) def. Casabon 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Savva (Arkansas) def. Ross 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
5. Emesz (Arkansas) def. Coquelin 6-0, 1-6, 6-1
6. Karlo Kajin (Arkansas) def. Alexandre Hillhouse 7-5, 6-4
Doubles
1. Barun/Horwood (Arkansas) def. Klopper/Ross 6-3
2. Casabon/Coquelin (Vanderbilt) vs. Connor Smillie/Jake Sweeney 5-6, unfinished
3. Manuel/Sau Franco (Arkansas) def. Panarin/Robb-Wilcox 7-5
Up Next: Vanderbilt is back home on Sunday, scheduled to take on Alabama at 1 p.m.
