Razorbacks Split Doubleheader in Seattle

SEATTLE – The Arkansas men’s tennis team (7-3) split its doubleheader in The Evergreen State on Saturday, falling 4-1 to Washington (4-4) before rebounding with a 4-0 win over Seattle (2-7).

The Hogs claimed an early lead versus Washington after another doubles sweep to earn the first point of the match. Jared Horwood and Melvin Manuel teamed up for a 6-3 victory in the top spot over No. 10 Bouchelaghem/Zharyn, marking the duo’s first ranked win of the season and the first top-10 doubles victory by a Razorback pairing since March 25, 2018, when Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo took down No. 1 Johannes Ingildsen/Alfredo Perez (Florida).

Connor Smillie and Jake Sweeney continued their doubles dominance with a 6-3 win of their own, clinching the doubles point for Arkansas. Gerard Planelles Ripoll and Alan Sau Franco’s match went unfinished with the score tied 4-4.

The Huskies quickly responded in singles play, taking the first set on four courts and eventually securing the match with four consecutive singles victories. On court six, Washington’s Brett Pearson secured a straight-set win over Sau Franco, while No. 107 Manuel dropped his match after a three-set battle against Han-Chih Lin at the No. 3 position. On court four, Stefanos Savva fell in a tight finish to Nedim Suko, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6. At the No. 1 position, Washington’s Cesar Bouchelaghem fought back after dropping the first set to Gerard Planelles Ripoll to grab a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

The Hogs regained their momentum in the second match against Seattle, earning the doubles point again with wins on courts one and three. Planelles Ripoll and Smillie struck first on court three with a 6-1 victory, followed by a 6-3 win from Horwood and Benedikt Emesz in the top spot to claim the first point of the match. Sweeney and Karlo Kajin’s match went unfinished with the score tied 4-4.

In singles play, Arkansas continued to roll by taking the first set on four courts. At the No. 4 position, Smillie defeated Ristovski 6-2, 6-1, while Horwood secured his third victory of the day by taking down Frank 6-2, 6-0. The Razorbacks clinched the final point of the match on court five as Sweeney bested Kiselkov 6-4, 6-3.

The Hogs continue their season with a doubleheader in Tulsa, Okla., as they travel to face Oral Roberts and Tulsa on Wednesday, February 21.