After a solid regular season start, the 22nd ranked UK Men’s Tennis team defeated the 27th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. This match also served as the SEC home-opener for the Cats.

The match would begin with doubles, where UK would lose the doubles point. Nils Ellefsen and William Bushamuka (UK) would pick up the lone doubles win over the 49th ranked duo Mike Redlicki and Giammarco Micolani (ARK) by a 6-3 final.

In the second match, Ryotaro Matsumara and Enzo Wallert (UK) were defeated by Jose Salazar and Adam Sanjurjo (ARK) in a 7-5 decision. In the final match, Santiago Munoz and Johan den Toom (ARK) downed Gus Benson and Kevin Lai (UK), 6-4.

Singles play began as 82nd ranked Redlicki (ARK) would win the first set, 6-2 then win the second set, 6-4, to secure an upset victory over 31st ranked Bushamuka (UK).

In the second match, 90th ranked Matsumara (UK) downed Salazar (ARK) in matching sets, 6-2 6-2.

Munoz (ARK) faced Ellefsen (UK) in the third match. Munoz won first set 6-3 but Ellefsen would answer the next match with a 6-3 win himself, then would pull away with the win in the final match 6-4. This win evened the match at 2-2 overall at the time.

The fourth match would see Wallart (UK) facing Micolani (ARK). Wallart claimed the first set 6-4, dropped the second 6-2 then claimed victory in the final set, 6-4. This extended the Cats’ lead to 3-2 with two to play.

Trey Yates (UK) secured the match win for the team as he downed Sanjurjo (ARK) 6-4, 6-4.

Charles Minc (UK) picked up the win in the final match against Toom (ARK) 6-4, 6-2.

With the win, UK moved to (9-2, 1-0) while Arkansas dropped to (10-3, 0-1). UK faces Ole Miss on Sunday at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.