Den Toom Defeats Ranked Opponent At ITA Kick-Off
NORMAN, Okla. – The No. 25 Arkansas men’s tennis team won the doubles point and Johan den Toom defeated a top-100 player at No. 3 singles, but the Razorbacks were unable to rally in singles play, falling to No. 17 Illinois 4-2 on Saturday afternoon at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Razorbacks (2-3) will face No. 19 Michigan on Sunday at 10 a.m., when play concludes at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend in Norman.
“Illinois was the better team today,” head coach Andy Jackson said. “We played hard and we played with a lot of heart. Tomorrow will be another top-25 battle and we are eager to get back on the courts.”
Playing doubles together for the first time this season, Jose Salazar and Juan Marino were the first doubles team off the court, winning 6-4 at No. 1 doubles. Adam Sanjurjo and Oscar Mesquida clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles, as Johan den Toom and Branch Terrell led 6-5 at No. 3 doubles.
Johan den Toom won the first set at No. 3 singles and Oscar Mesquida won the first set at No. 4 singles, while Illinois claimed the first set at the other four singles spots.
Illinois tied the match at 1-1 with 6-4, 6-3 win by No. 85-ranked Aleksandar Kovacevic at No. 5 singles and then grabbed a 2-1 lead with a 6-1, 6-4 win by Aleks Vukic at No. 1 singles, as singles play went into a third set at No. 3 and No. 6 singles. Illinois extended its lead to 3-1 with a 6-2, 6-4 win by No. 19-ranked Aron Hiltzik at No. 2 singles.
Johan den Toom pulled Arkansas to within 3-2 in the match, as he finished off a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles, defeating No. 100 Gui Gomes for his first win over a ranked opponent this season. With Illinois leading 3-2 in the match, play continued in the third set at No. 6 singles and headed to a third set at No. 4 singles.
Illinois clinched the 4-2 win with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win at No. 6 singles, where Branch Terrell battled back to force a third set but was unable to complete the comeback against Noe Khlif. Play concluded with Oscar Mesquida leading 3-0 in the third set at No. 4 singles. Arkansas was without No. 3-ranked Mike Redlicki, who missed the match due to illness.
Notable
- Making its fifth appearance in the nine-year history of the event, Arkansas is now 3-6 all-time in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
- Arkansas has won the doubles point in three of five matches this season: SMU, Illinois State and Illinois.
- Playing with three different doubles partners, Jose Salazar improved to 4-1 in doubles play this season.
- Johan den Toom picked up his first win over a ranked singles opponent, giving Arkansas its second win over a ranked singles opponent this season.
- Arkansas will play eight more matches against teams ranked in the top 25, including one more match this weekend against either No. 16 Oklahoma or No. 19 Michigan on Sunday.
Up Next
No. 25 Arkansas concludes play at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend against either No. 16 Oklahoma or No. 19 Michigan on Sunday at 10 a.m. The Razorbacks then return home for three straight matches, beginning with No. 16 Oklahoma on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.
