Memphis drops AAC Tournament opener to Wichita State

Thursday, April 22

Orlando, Fla. / USTA National Campus

7:30 a.m.

University of Memphis

Wichita State

Photo by: American Athletic Conference

Memphis drops AAC Tournament opener to Wichita State

Apr 22, 2021 | Men's Tennis

ORLANDO, Fla. – A matchup of nationally-ranked squads in the first round of the 2021 American Athletic Conference Men's Tennis Championship did not disappoint, but the fourth-seeded Memphis Tigers came up short to the fifth-seeded Wichita State Shockers Thursday afternoon in Orlando, Fla., 4-3.

The 32nd-ranked Tigers (9-8) opened the match by winning all three doubles contests over the 33rd-ranked Shockers (15-7) to earn the first point of the day, led by the nation's 18th-ranked tandem, Oscar Cutting/David Stevenson.

In a matchup of nationally-ranked singles players, Wichita State's No. 35 Murkel Dellien defeated Memphis' No. 60 James Story, 6-2, 6-3 to knot the match at 1. No. 101 David Stevenson took down Marius Frosa in the number-two spot to put Memphis back on top, 2-1, but the Shockers tied things up again at 2 with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 win by Stefan Latinovic over Oscar Cutting in the third position.

Memphis' Jeremy Taylor brought the Tigers within a point of the match, as he earned a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) win over Orel Ovil on the fifth court, but once again Wichita State had an answer with Nicolas Acevedo topping Jan Pallares on court four, 7-6 (7-1), 2-6, 6-2.

With all eyes turning to the sixth and final court, Wichita State's Luka Mrsic defeated Memphis' Pau Fanlo, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) is a tight battle to wrap up the win for the Shockers.

The three-and-a-half hour contest featured eight sets decided by two points or fewer.

Results
Singles
1. #35 Murkel Dellien (WS) def. #60 James Story (MEM) 6-2, 6-3
2. #101 David Stevenson (MEM) def. Marius Frosa (WS) 6-2, 7-5
3. Stefan Latinovic (WS) def. Oscar Cutting (MEM) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
4. Nicolas Acevedo (WS) def. Jan Pallares (MEM) 7-6 (7-1), 2-6, 6-2
5. Jeremy Taylor (MEM) def. Orel Ovil (WS) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)
6. Luka Mrsic (WS) def. Pau Fanlo (MEM) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)

Doubles
1. #18 Oscar Cutting/David Stevenson (MEM) def. #39 Murkel Dellien/Marius Frosa (WS) 7-5
2. Jan Pallares/Patrick Sydow (MEM) def. Orel Ovil/Luka Mrsic (WS) 6-3
3. Jeremy Taylor/James Story (MEM) def. Nicolas Acevedo/Stefan Latinovic (WS) 7-5

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,2,3,5,4,6)