Men’s tennis team upset by Washington

SEATTLE, Wash. | The 10th-ranked University of Alabama men’s tennis team fell to No. 15 Washington, 4-2, at the Lloyd Nordstrom Tennis Center on the University of Washington campus in the consolation bracket of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. With the loss the Tide falls to 7-2 in dual matches.

Alabama lost the doubles point for only the second time this season. The Tide fell at Nos. 2 and 3 to give the Huskies the point. Alabama’s top tandem of Daniel Buikema and Mathieu Thibaudeau defeated Derek Drabble and Andy Kuharszky, 8-6, to pick up the Tide’s only doubles win.

In singles, Alabama’s Thibaudeau and Struyf were the only two players to pick up wins for the Tide. Thibaudeau cruised by Washington’s Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, 6-2, 6-2, from the No. 2 position. Struyf earned the second Alabama point by defeating Andy Kuharszky, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, at the No. 3 slot.

Buikema rallied back from the No. 5 spot to tie his match at 4-4 in the third set before his match was suspended. Down 4-5 in the second set, Buikema broke Washington’s Tobi Obenaus and served for the game. Buikema clinched the second set victory 7-2 in the tiebreaker.

Singles

1. Patrik Fischer (UW) d. Saketh Myneni (UA) 6-4, 6-1

2. Mat Thibaudeau (UA) d. Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (UW) 6-2, 6-2

3. Sammy Struyf (UA) d. Andy Kuharszky (UW) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2

4. Derek Drabble (UW) d. Michael Jung (UA) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2)

5. Daniel Buikema (UA) vs. Tobi Obenaus (UW) 4-6, 7-6(2), 4-4, susp.

6. Ryo Sekiguchi (UW) d. Javier Bes (UA) 6-4, 4-6, 3-6

Doubles

1. Buikema/Thibaudeau (UA) d. Drabble/Kuharszky (UW) 8-6

2. Fischer/Nedunchezhiyan (UW) d. Myneni/Jung (UA) 8-3

3. Obenaus/Kildahl (UW) d. Bes/Struyf (UA) 8-6