COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 42 Alabama men’s tennis team fell on the road at No. 6 Texas A&M, 5-2, at the Mitchell Tennis Center on Sunday.
The Crimson Tide (15-6, 1-5 SEC) is still looking for its first win in program history against the Aggies (14-4, 6-0 SEC).
A&M began the day with No. 19 Aguilar/Arconada defeating sophomore Edson Ortiz and junior Mazen Osama, 6-2. No. 48 Rinderknech/Kypson took care of the sophomore pair of No. 71 Alexey Nesterov and Thibault Cancel, 6-2, to clinch the doubles point.
In singles play, sophomore Zhe Zhou fell to No. 49 Jordi Arconada, 6-1, 6-2, and Ortiz was defeated by Val Vacherot, 6-1, 6-3, to put the Aggies up 3-0. Texas A&M clinched the match with Juan Carlos Aguilar winning in straight sets over freshman Riccardo Roberto, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 6 Arthur Rinderknech defeated Cancel 6-2, 6-3 to put the Aggies up 5-0. With the match already won, Alabama got on the board after Nesterov took care of Barnaby Smith 6-0, 3-6, 6-1. Later, No. 95 Osama earned a win over No. 37 Patrick Kypson, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3), to end the match at 5-2.
The Crimson Tide will return to action at 5 p.m. Friday at No. 36 Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss.
Alabama Results:
Singles vs. Texas A&M:
1. No. 95 Mazen Osama def. No. 37 Patrick Kypson, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3)
2. No. 6 Arthur Rinderknech def. Thibault Cancel, 6-2, 6-3
3. No. 49 Jordi Arconada def. Zhe Zhou, 6-1, 6-2
4. No. 25 Val Vacherot def. Edson Ortiz, 6-1, 6-3
5. Juan Carlos Aguilar def. Riccardo Roberto, 6-2, 6-2
6. Alexey Nesterov def. Barnaby Smith, 6-0, 3-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 5, 2, 6, 1
Doubles vs. Texas A&M:
1. No. 19 Aguilar/Arconada def. Ortiz/Osama, 6-2
2. No. 48 Rinderknech/Kypson def. No. 71 Cancel/Nesterov, 6-2
3. Roberto/Kaukovalta vs. Vacherot/Catanzariti, 5-4, unf.
Order of Finish: 1, 2
