Riccardo Roberto faced three match points in a second-set tiebreaker before coming out victorious in three sets in the No. 17 Alabama men’s tennis team’s 4-3 victory over No. 45 Vanderbilt on Sunday at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. The Crimson Tide improves to 11-5 on the year, including 2-2 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Commodores drop to 7-6 and 1-3 in the SEC.
In doubles, Roberto and Zhe Zhou defeated of Sraberg/Worst, 6-1. Alabama clinched the doubles point after Edson Ortiz and Marcelo Sepulveda Garza cruised past Harwell/Sisam, 6-2, to give UA the 1-0 advantage.
In singles, Alexey Nesterov quickly moved past Macsen Sisam, 6-4, 6-2, at the No. 5 spot. Patrick Kaukovalta battled to a 6-4, 7-6(4), win over Panu Virtanen, then the Commodores picked up a win.
No. 74 Ortiz dropped his match on court one 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, to George Harwell. At the No. 3 spot, Roberto won the breaker, 11-9. In the third set, Roberto dominated Max Freeman, 6-1, to clinch the win.
Zhou fell to Billy Rowe, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-4 to make the final score 4-3 in favor of the Tide.
The Tide takes on Auburn at the Alabama Tennis Stadium at 1 p.m. March 15.
Alabama Results
Singles
George Harwell def. No. 74 Edson Ortiz, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Billy Rowe def. Zhe Zhou, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-
Riccardo Roberto def. Max Freeman, 4-6, 7-6(9), 6-1
Patrick Kaukovalta def. Panu Virtanen, 6-4, 7-6(4)
Alexey Nesterov, Macsen Sisam, 6-4, 6-2
Marcus Ferreira def. Jeremy Gschwendtner, 6-4, 6-3
Order of Finish: 5, 4, 6, 1, 3, 2
Doubles
Rowe/Virtanen vs. Kaukovalta/Nesterov, 5-3, unf.
Ortiz/Sepulveda Garza def. Harwell/Sisam, 6-2
Roberto/Zhou def. Sraberg/Worst, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 2
