What to expect: Kentucky men's tennis looking to dance a little longer
Oh, how sweet it sounds.
Kentucky men’s tennis enters the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament this weekend versus Stanford. The Wildcats put their 26-4 (9-3 SEC) record on the line in a do-or-die matchup. The Sweet 16 will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 from the Boone Tennis Center in Lexington, KY.
Kentucky was victorious in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament as both matches were played at home. Last weekend, Kentucky swept Presbyterian and then inched out a victory against Northwestern. Now, the ‘Cats are playing at home for the final time this season. A win would boost the SEC Tournament Champions into the Elite Eight in Orlando, Florida.
Whether you want to refer to them as the Cardiac ‘Cats or the Comeback ‘Cats, that’s up to you. This Kentucky team certainly knows how to play from behind.
Against Northwestern, Kentucky was down 3-1 in the match and couldn’t lose another point unless they wanted the season to be over. So what did they do? Well, the ‘Cats won three-consecutive singles matches to win 4-3. Joshua Lapadat, Liam Draxl, and Taha Baadi all came from behind after losing their first sets. Each player rallied off two-consecutive set wins as Kentucky found themselves in the Sweet 16.
While getting to this point this weekend won’t bode well for the faint of heart, if Kentucky has to come back, they’ve proven they can.
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It’s quite the opponent that awaits Kentucky. When it comes to tennis, Stanford historically reigns supreme. The Cardinal has 17 national championships in tennis and has made the big dance 15 times in a row. Expect some quality tennis in this year’s edition of the Sweet 16.
Kentucky is no stranger to big matchups this season. The Wildcats have nine ranked wins, two of which came during the SEC Tournament. This UK team has also beaten then-No. 1 Virginia in Charlottesville and swept the previous SEC champion, Florida, all during this campaign.
Singles play will carry Kentucky, considering the individual talent is off the charts within this team. Doubles has been shaky, but the ‘Cats have been solid throughout the tournament, winning both of the doubles points when given the opportunity.
If attending, expect a jam-packed Boone Tennis Center. There’s been some advertising that an attendance record could be broken on Saturday. It’s tennis time in the Bluegrass! Tickets to Saturday’s match can be found here.
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