In an impressive start to SEC play, No. 3 Texas Men's Tennis showcased their prowess with a commanding 6-1 victory over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This marked Texas' inaugural visit to Alabama's home turf, kicking off a trio of road matches to launch their conference journey.
The Longhorns set the tone early, sweeping all three doubles matches with identical 6-3 scores. The No. 3 duo of Abel Forger and Evan Burnett led the charge, swiftly overcoming Rohan Hazratwala and Gray Voelzke. Meanwhile, the No. 12 pair of Sebastian Eriksson and Oliver Ojakaar clinched their match against Vit Kalina and Matic Kriznik just moments before the No. 1 team of Sebastian Gorzny and Lucas Marionneau sealed their top-20 victory over Andrii Zimnokh and Jacob Olar.
In singles action, Jonah Braswell wasted no time, giving Texas a 2-0 lead with his decisive 6-2, 6-1 win over Olar at No. 4.
Although Alabama's Yoshka Sborowsky managed to secure a point by defeating Mariano Dedura-Palomero at No. 6, the Longhorns quickly regained control. Freshman Abel Forger rebounded from a first-set loss to dominate the next two sets, 6-0, 6-0, against Kalina at No.
The match witnessed another near-simultaneous finish as Gorzny clinched the team victory with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Zimnokh at No. 1.
Marionneau followed closely, adding to the tally with a 7-5, 6-4 triumph over Carlos Gimenez Perez at No. 5.
Eriksson wrapped up the day with a thrilling superbreaker win over No. 90 Kriznik, 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (5), at No.
Looking ahead, the Longhorns are set to face No. 10 Mississippi State in Starkville. It's a top-10 showdown that promises to test Texas as they continue their road stint.
Match Breakdown
Doubles:
- **No.
3:** Burnett/Forger (TEX) def. Hazratwala/Voelzke (ALA) 6-3
- Texas claimed crucial deuce points to maintain momentum and secure the win.
- No. 2: Eriksson/Ojakaar (TEX) def.
Kalina/Kriznik (ALA) 6-3
- A single break was enough for Texas to edge out the match, showcasing their serving strength.
- No. 1: Gorzny/Marionneau (TEX) def.
Zimnokh/Olar (ALA) 6-3
- Despite an early break by Alabama, Texas responded with resilience to claim victory.
Singles:
- **No.
4:** Braswell (TEX) def. Olar (ALA) 6-2, 6-1
- Braswell's consistent play kept him in control from start to finish.
- No. 6: Sborowsky (ALA) def.
Dedura-Palomero (TEX) 6-3, 6-4
- Sborowsky fought back from an early deficit to secure Alabama's sole point.
- No. 3: Forger (TEX) def.
Kalina (ALA) 4-6, 6-0, 6-0
- After dropping the first set, Forger dominated the next two, not dropping a single game.
- No. 1: Gorzny (TEX) def.
Zimnokh (ALA) 6-3, 7-6 (4)
- Gorzny's experience shone through in a tight second set tiebreaker.
- No. 5: Marionneau (TEX) def.
Gimenez Perez (ALA) 7-5, 6-4
- Marionneau's late breaks in each set proved decisive.
- No. 2: Eriksson (TEX) def.
Kriznik (ALA) 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (5)
- Eriksson's poise in the superbreaker capped off a stellar team performance.
Texas' strong start in SEC play sets a promising tone for the season, blending youthful energy with seasoned talent. The Longhorns are clearly a force to be reckoned with as they continue their journey on the road.