No. 5 Kentucky Begins Postseason Journey at SEC Tournament

AUBRUN, Ala. – Kentucky males’s tennis (21-4, 9-3 SEC) is ready to start play on the 2023 SEC Match on Friday when the Wildcats sq. off in opposition to Alabama (12-14, 4-9 SEC) on the Yarbrough Tennis Advanced on the campus of Auburn College.

The quarterfinal match will start at 10 a.m. ET with stay stats and streaming obtainable for followers. For extra data on the match, together with schedule, ticket information and extra, go to the match central web page.

Kentucky is the third seed within the bracket after posting a 9-3 common season in convention play. The Cats confronted the Crimson Tide simply over a month in the past, incomes a 6-1 victory in Tuscaloosa. Within the two groups’ earlier matchup, UK clinched the doubles level with victories from the pairs of Alafia Ayeni and Taha Baadi, in addition to Liam Draxl and Jaden Weekes. Draxl, Ayeni, Baadi, Weekes and Joshua Lapadat all adopted with wins within the singles session to safe the victory for the Cats.

Coming into this week’s match, UK has three gamers ranked contained in the top-60 of the ITA rankings. Draxl leads on the manner at No. 19 adopted by Ayeni at No. 25 and Lapadat at No. 56. The Cats even have two-ranked doubles groups, Ayeni and Baadi at No. 23 and Lapadat and JJ Mercer at No. 67. Massive Blue received its ultimate two common season matches of the 12 months, defeating Vanderbilt and Florida.

Alabama reached the quarterfinal spherical after upsetting No. 15 Mississippi State on Thursday. The Crimson Tide is led by two nationally ranked singles gamers in Filip Planinsek (No. 92) and Enzo Aguiard (No. 121). Bama is coming off a 4-3 victory over the Bulldogs during which the Tide captured the doubles level earlier than including victories at third, fifth and sixth singles.

The winner of Friday’s contest will advance to Saturday’s semifinals for a 1 p.m. ET match. Each semifinal matches might be broadcast stay on SECN+ with Sunday’s ultimate set to air on SEC Community at 4:30 ET.

Kentucky has received the SEC Match simply as soon as in program historical past again in 1992. Final 12 months, the Wildcats reached the Championship match earlier than falling to Florida.

For the newest on UK Males’s Tennis, comply with the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.