University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, April 20
Tulsa, Okla.
12:00 PM
University of Memphis
4
vs
3
No. 4 Rice
Tigers Top Owls in Semifinals, Head to AAC Championship Title Match
Apr 20, 2024 | Men's Tennis
TULSA, Okla. – The top-seeded Memphis Tiger men's tennis team advanced to the title match of the 2024 American Athletic Conference Championship with a 4-3 victory over fourth-seeded and No. 51 Rice Saturday afternoon at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
No. 32 Memphis (18-5) will face sixth-seeded and No. 64 Charlotte Sunday at noon for the title. The match can be seen on ESPN+.
"What an unbelievable and tough win today for the Tigers," Memphis assistant coach Eduardo Mena said. "Rice came ready to play and threw everything they had at us. After losing the doubles point, our Tigers went to work. Pablo and Harry gave us two quick matches to tie the match.
"After going back down 3-2, Conor and Moritz had to dig deep after losing their first sets, however, they both showed what this team means to them and what the words Tiger Tough mean. They both won their second sets on a tiebreak and rolled over their opponents to give us the win. We are so excited for tomorrow and will be ready to battle again."
Rice grabbed the early momentum with the doubles point, taking a 6-1 victory on court one and a 7-6(3) decision on court three.
In singles, the Owls doubled their lead with a win at the fourth position before No. 58 Pablo Alemany swept 6-2, 6-3 at the top spot and Harry Rock won 6-4, 6-4 on court three to even the match at 2-2.
Rice regained the lead on court six with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory over Juan Zabala and the Owls looked to be in control after taking the first sets in the remaining two matches.
However, the Tigers showed why they are the league's top team as Conor Gannon and Moritz Kudernatsch battled from behind to win their respective matches in three sets to send Memphis to the championship.
Gannon won 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 on court two before Kudernatsch took a 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 victory at the fifth spot after coming from 40-30 down to break and clinch the Tiger win.
It will be Memphis' third trip to the AAC title match in program history and the second time in the last three years.
#32 Memphis 4, #51 Rice 3
Singles
1. No. 58 Pablo Alemany (MEM) def. Yasha Zemel (RICE) 6-2, 6-3
2. Conor Gannon (MEM) def. Trinity Grear (RICE) 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2
3. Harry Rock (MEM) def. Ar de la Bassetiere (RICE) 6-4, 6-4
4. Emir Sendogan (RICE) def. Maxime Dubouch (MEM) 6-1, 6-3
5. Moritz Kudernatsch (MEM) def. Petro Kuzmenok (RICE) 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4
6. Kabeer Kapasi (RICE) def. Juan Zabala (MEM) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
Doubles
1. Kabeer Kapasi / Yasha Zemel (RICE) def. No. 34 Pablo Alemany / Charlie Barry (MEM) 6-1
2. Conor Gannon / Harry Rock MEM) vs. Trinity Grear / Petro Kuzmenok (RICE) 6-6, unfinished
3. Ar de la Bassetiere / Eduardo Morais (RICE) def. Juan Zabla / Pau Fanlo (MEM) 7-6(3)
Order of Completion:
Doubles (1,3)
Singles (4,1,3,6,2,5)
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Tennis, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
No. 32 Memphis (18-5) will face sixth-seeded and No. 64 Charlotte Sunday at noon for the title. The match can be seen on ESPN+.
"What an unbelievable and tough win today for the Tigers," Memphis assistant coach Eduardo Mena said. "Rice came ready to play and threw everything they had at us. After losing the doubles point, our Tigers went to work. Pablo and Harry gave us two quick matches to tie the match.
"After going back down 3-2, Conor and Moritz had to dig deep after losing their first sets, however, they both showed what this team means to them and what the words Tiger Tough mean. They both won their second sets on a tiebreak and rolled over their opponents to give us the win. We are so excited for tomorrow and will be ready to battle again."
Rice grabbed the early momentum with the doubles point, taking a 6-1 victory on court one and a 7-6(3) decision on court three.
In singles, the Owls doubled their lead with a win at the fourth position before No. 58 Pablo Alemany swept 6-2, 6-3 at the top spot and Harry Rock won 6-4, 6-4 on court three to even the match at 2-2.
Rice regained the lead on court six with a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory over Juan Zabala and the Owls looked to be in control after taking the first sets in the remaining two matches.
However, the Tigers showed why they are the league's top team as Conor Gannon and Moritz Kudernatsch battled from behind to win their respective matches in three sets to send Memphis to the championship.
Gannon won 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 on court two before Kudernatsch took a 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 victory at the fifth spot after coming from 40-30 down to break and clinch the Tiger win.
It will be Memphis' third trip to the AAC title match in program history and the second time in the last three years.
#32 Memphis 4, #51 Rice 3
Singles
1. No. 58 Pablo Alemany (MEM) def. Yasha Zemel (RICE) 6-2, 6-3
2. Conor Gannon (MEM) def. Trinity Grear (RICE) 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2
3. Harry Rock (MEM) def. Ar de la Bassetiere (RICE) 6-4, 6-4
4. Emir Sendogan (RICE) def. Maxime Dubouch (MEM) 6-1, 6-3
5. Moritz Kudernatsch (MEM) def. Petro Kuzmenok (RICE) 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4
6. Kabeer Kapasi (RICE) def. Juan Zabala (MEM) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
Doubles
1. Kabeer Kapasi / Yasha Zemel (RICE) def. No. 34 Pablo Alemany / Charlie Barry (MEM) 6-1
2. Conor Gannon / Harry Rock MEM) vs. Trinity Grear / Petro Kuzmenok (RICE) 6-6, unfinished
3. Ar de la Bassetiere / Eduardo Morais (RICE) def. Juan Zabla / Pau Fanlo (MEM) 7-6(3)
Order of Completion:
Doubles (1,3)
Singles (4,1,3,6,2,5)
HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tiger Men's Tennis, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3
#1 Singles Match
12
Yasha Zemel / 0 [RICE]
23
66
#2 Singles Match
123
Trinity Grear / 0 [RICE]
662
376
#3 Singles Match
12
Ar de la Bassetiere / 0 [RICE]
44
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Emir Sendogan / 0 [RICE]
66
13
#5 Singles Match
123
Petro Kuzmenok / 0 [RICE]
664
476
#6 Singles Match
123
Kabeer Kapasi / 0 [RICE]
616
263
Order of Finish:
4,1,3,6,2,5
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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