Arkansas Splits Home Doubleheader Against Tulsa, ORU

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas men’s tennis team (4-1) split its home doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Billingsley Tennis Center, falling 4-3 to Tulsa (2-1) before rebounding with a 4-0 win over Oral Roberts (1-1).

The Hogs claimed an early versus Tulsa after another doubles sweep to take the first point of the match. Benni Emesz and Lukas Palovic teamed up to collect their first victory together this season with a 6-3 win over Jestin/Pellegrini on court three. Božo Barun and Marino Jakic followed with their first of two victories on the day after a 7-5 win against Carlsson Seger/Okonkwo in the top spot. Connor Smillie and Jakub Vrba’s match went unfinished with the Razorback duo ahead 6-5.

Arkansas struck first in singles play as No. 85 Vrba took down Pellegrini in straight sets at the No. 4 position, while Arthur Bellegy obtained his third victory this spring after a 6-2, 6-2 win over Doig on court six, leaving the Hogs within one point of securing the match. Tulsa answered with a straight-set victory from Okonkwo against Barun in the top spot to earn its first point.

The Golden Hurricane proceeded to win each of the remaining three courts to clinch the match. Carlsson Seger bested Jakic in straight sets at the No. 3 position as Tulsa eventually tied the match after a 6-2, 7-5 victory from Felipe Miguel over Palovic on court two.

The match came down to court five, where Emesz faced Reiya Komagata. Komagata took the first set 6-3 while Emesz responded to win the second set 6-3, forcing a winner-take-all third set. In the final set, Komagata rallied from an 0-3 deficit and led 6-5 before Emesz sent the set to a tiebreak, where Komagata pulled away en route to a 7-2 win to complete the comeback for the Golden Hurricane.

The Razorbacks regained their momentum in the second match against Oral Roberts, earning the doubles point again with victories on courts one and three. Bellegy and Brendan Boland dominated their way to a 6-0 win against A. Brewer/Cheek at the No. 3 position. Barun and Jakic brought home the doubles point with a 6-3 victory over Couy/Filho in the top spot as Palovic and Smillie’s match went unfinished with the Arkansas duo ahead 4-2.

In singles play, the Hogs continued to roll by taking the first set on five courts. On court two, Palovic cruised past Couy 6-0, 6-0, while Barun secured his third win of the day as he defeated Filho, 6-3, 6-0, at the No. 1 position. The Razorbacks clinched the final point of the match on court three as Jakic took down E. Brewer, 6-1, 6-2.

Arkansas will continue its season next weekend in Austin, Texas, as they travel to face Georgia Tech and No. 1 Texas or Rice during ITA Kickoff Weekend from January 25-26.