Tech tennis falls at Alabama to wrap up busy weekend of action

Men's Tennis

Tennessee Tech

Alabama

Doubles

Patrick Kaukovalta / Filip Planinsek (ALA)
def. BERGHAUS, Mika / GRUBERT, Elias (TTU)

6-4

Joao Ferreira / German Samofalov (ALA)
def. HOLIS, Evzen / TOSETTO, Rafael (TTU)

6-1

Rudi Christiansen / Zach Foster (ALA)
def. SASAGAWA, Jun / VICENTE, Carlos (TTU)

FINAL - UNFINISHED

Singles

Patrick Kaukovalta (ALA)
def. GRUBERT, Elias (TTU)

7-5, 6-2

German Samofalov (ALA)
def. BERGHAUS, Mika (TTU)

6-2, 7-5

Joao Ferreira (ALA)
def. HOLIS, Evzen (TTU)

7-5, 7-5

VICENTE, Carlos (TTU)
def. Rudi Christiansen (ALA)

6-3, 6-4

Zach Foster (ALA)
def. SASAGAWA, Jun (TTU)

4-6, 6-2, 6-2

Juan Martin (ALA)
def. TOSETTO, Rafael (TTU)

FINAL - WALKOVER

full stats

Posted: Apr 03, 2022

By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—The Tennessee Tech tennis team concluded a busy weekend on the courts with a 6-1 loss to Alabama in the club's sixth matchup against a "Power 5" opponent in 13 total contests this spring. The loss to the Crimson Tide snapped a season-best two-match heater that featured back-to-back home wins over Chattanooga and Eastern Illinois.

Carlos Vicente was responsible for Tech's lone win thanks to a 6-3, 6-4 triumph out of the No. 4 singles spot for the 5-foot-8 junior's second consecutive solo nod. Vicente's victory was one of four singles matchups that ended in straight sets, with the other three swinging in favor of the Tide (7-16).

Patrick Kaukovalta took home a 7-5, 6-2 win over Elias Grubert in the top slot, while German Samofalov defeated Mika Berghaus 6-2, 7-5 in the No. 2 position and Joe Ferreira secured a 7-5, 7-5 decision against Evzen Holis in the No. 3 battle. Jun Sasagawa claimed a 6-4 first-set win against Zach Forster in the No. 5 get-together, but Foster rallied for back-to-back 6-2 triumphs in the second and third sets to capture the only three-set singles meeting.

Juan Martin was credited with a victory over Rafael Tosetto in the No. 6 matchup after Tosetto retired.

The Golden Eagles (3-10) were tripped up during doubles play, as the Tide seized wins in each of the top two tilts. Patrick Kaukovalta and Filip Planinsek notched a 6-4 victory over Mika Berghaus and Elias Grubert in the No. 1 showdown, while Joao Ferreira and German Samofalov collected a 6-1 nod against Evzen Holis and Rafael Tosetto in the No. 2 position.

The No. 3 battle pitting Carlos Vicente and Jun Sasagawa and Rudi Christiansen and Zach Foster did not finish with the score squared at 4-4.

After completing a stretch of three matches in four days over the weekend, the Golden Eagles will set their sights on consecutive road clashes with a Saturday, Apr. 9 affair at Tennessee State and a Sunday, Apr. 10 get-together at Georgia State. Botch contests are slated to start at noon CT.

Photo by Thomas Corhern