After a terrific 4-0 start to the year, the No. 21 UK’s men’s tennis team looked to claim its first Power Five win of the season on Sunday afternoon, hosting 4-2 Notre Dame inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex. 

The Fighting Irish came into the match led by the No. 19 doubles duo of Tristan McCormick and Axel Nefve, and the No. 6 singles player in the country, Richard Ciamarra, providing a true test for Kentucky.  

The Wildcats weren’t phased by the pedigree of their foes though, quickly claiming the doubles point to put Kentucky on the board.  

Undefeated doubles duo Gabriel Diallo and Cesar Bourgois dismantled the nationally ranked tandem of McCormick and Nefve on court one, winning by a score of 6-3. 

Liam Draxl and Alexandre Leblanc finished right behind, taking down ND’s William Howells and Brandon Ancona 6-2. Notching the doubles point provided the Cats with much needed momentum going into singles play.  

Draxl, who slots as the No. 45 singles player in the nation, was tasked with No. 6 Ciamarra on court one. Before any other could finish, he had already taken care of business, defeating Ciamarra 6-4, 6-0 to double the Kentucky lead. Draxl is now 5-0 in singles play so far this season.  

Up 2-0, UK would roll from there. Diallo was next to win for the Cats, beating Matthew Che 6-3, 6-2. No. 123 Joshua Lapadat continued his fine form, beating McCormick 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) for his second singles victory. His win officially clinched the match for Big Blue. 

The two Wildcat captains would follow, as Millen Hurrion knocked off Nefve 7-6 (7-2,) 6-2, and Bourgois reigned victorious over Ancona 8-5 (time constraint to one set.) 

Freshman Mathis Moysan would finish the sweep for the Wildcats, winning his match against Connor Fu by a score of 8-6 (also time constraint to one set).

A 7-0 sweep of the Fighting Irish is just what UK needed to keep its great start going. They’re now 5-0 on the year and have allowed only two points the entire season, both of which came in their match versus East Tennessee State.  

The Cats return to action on Wednesday, when they host a doubleheader with the Dayton Flyers. Match one begins at 11:00 a.m. E.T, while match kicks off at 3:00 p.m. E.T. The action will take place at the Boone Tennis Complex.