By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team sealed the deal on a season-opening four-match road swing with a 7-0 defeat to No. 21 Alabama Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa.

Clashing with their third SEC opponent of the year, the Golden Eagles (0-4) fell in in straight sets in all six singles bouts. The Tide (5-2) provided a powerful punch at the top of the lineup behind victories in the top three spots, with Filip Planinsek securing a 6-2, 6-2 win over Alex Alvarez in the No. 1 spot, Andrii Zimnokh picking up a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Murilo Burckhardt in the No. 2 position and Roan Jones collecting a 6-3, 6-4 nod over Paulo Ramos Martin in the No. 3 meeting.

Zach Foster knocked off Davids Spaks thanks to a 6-2, 6-2 triumph in the No. 4 get-together, while Matic Dimic took down Darek Kuczynski 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 5 tilt and Yair Sarouk powered past Lukas Krause 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 6 affair.

Alabama started off the match by clinching the doubles point thanks to victories in both completed clashes. Zach Forster and Roan Jones tabbed a 6-3 win over Davids Spaks and Murilo Burckhardt in the No. 2 conference and the Tide tandem of Yair Sarouk and Andrii Zimnokh carded a 6-2 decision against Darek Kuczynski and Lukas Krause in the No. 3 slot.

The top doubles matchup pitting Alex Alvarez and Paulo Ramos Martin against Matic Dimic and Filip Planinsek did not finish.

With TTU's rigorous season-opening four-match road stretch in the rearview mirror, the Golden Eagles will turn their attention to their home opener against Presbyterian on Feb. 25. First serve at Tech Tennis Courts is slated for 1 p.m. CT and admission is free of charge.  

Photo by Thomas Corhern