Kajin Clinches Comeback Win as Hogs Upset No. 25 Auburn
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 49 Arkansas men’s tennis team (15-9, 2-6) picked up a resilient win against the No. 25 Auburn Tigers (13-8, 4-4) on Sunday afternoon at Billingsley Tennis Center. The Razorbacks claimed the doubles point and overcame a 3-1 deficit in singles play to earn their first top-25 victory this season.
The Hogs jumped out to an early lead after clinching the doubles point against the Tigers. The duo of No. 29 Božo Barun/Jared Horwood struck first with a 6-4 win against No. 26 Dobai/Murgett on court one. The victory for Barun/Horwood marks their third ranked win together this spring. Arkansas took the doubles point after a 7-5 victory from Connor Smillie/Jake Sweeney over Blaydes/Moreno at the No. 2 position.
Auburn rallied to obtain the first point in singles play on court four with Stefanos Savva falling to Blaydes, 2-6, 4-6. The Tigers grabbed the lead with a win at the No. 2 position as No. 91 Murgett bested Gerard Planelles Ripoll, 6-3, 6-4. Auburn pulled within one point of taking the match after No. 43 Stice defeated Barun on court one, 3-6, 6-7 (0).
Benedikt Emesz battled back after dropping the first set to collect his 10th singles victory this dual season with a 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-0 win at the No. 5 position. Melvin Manuel secured a 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 victory over Moreno on court three to even the match. The final singles court came down to a third-set tiebreaker as Karlo Kajin clinched the match for the Razorbacks after a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) battle against Nolan at the No. 6 position.
The Hogs hit the road next weekend as they face conference foes No. 36 LSU on Friday, April 5, and No. 10 Texas A&M on Sunday, April 7.
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