Kentucky men’s tennis started the season on the right path, winning both games in its Monday doubleheader against Northern Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky.
The Wildcats showed why they’re the No. 11 team in the country, sweeping NKU and EKU 7-0.
After a snowy day in Lexington and two dominating wins, three things stuck out the most from the start of the season.
MCCLELLAND – Charlelie Cosnet is making a name for himself
Charlelie Cosnet, who was a frequent singles player last season for the Wildcats, performed well in his first singles matches of the year, beating NKU’s Tom Berry 6-1, 6-3 in straight sets to start the day and continued play after the clinch against EKU.
Cosnet won the first set 7-6 after an entertaining tie breaker, and won the second set 6-4.
If Kentucky hopes to live up to its potential and even make another NCAA Championship game, it will have to rely on talent and to have a singles player with the level of talent as a sophomore is vital for Kentucky.
GIBSON – JJ Mercer begins the season undefeated
Redshirt senior JJ Mercer began his season off 3-0 with two singles victories and a doubles win.
Mercer’s day kicked off with a 6-0 bagel with doubles partner Joshua Lapadat to clinch the first doubles match of the season for the Cats.
The Mercer and Lapadat duo has the most chemistry of the teams’ doubles pairs and will play a vital part in Kentucky’s doubles matches this year.
Then, on court five, Mercer took down NKU’s Trevor Ball 6-1, 6-2 in straight sets.
To conclude his 3-0 showing, Mercer faced off with Kristoffer Stahlbrand and also won in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.
MCCLELLAND – Kentucky’s freshman class is strong, shows depth in roster
This Kentucky team is experienced, featuring names like Taha Baadi and Lapadat as the leaders, but the widely anticipated debut of the freshman class defined the day.
Eli Stephenson started his day off in doubles with Jaden Weekes, winning 6-2 against NKU. He later won his first collegiate singles match 6-1, 6-0. Against EKU, he won another doubles match with Weekes 6-2.
Matt Rankin was paired with Baadi in his first doubles match and won 6-4 before sweeping NKU’s Santiago Casamayor 6-0, 6-0 in singles with an energetic showing. Rankin showed poise against EKU after dropping the first set in singles 6-3, coming back to win the second set 6-3 and finishing it off with the tiebreaker 10-4.
Jack Loutit also dominated the singles game, winning 6-1, 6-3 against NKU and 6-1, 6-2 against EKU.
These three freshman can be special for Kentucky and give availability and depth to the UK roster.
