Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska men’s tennis team (5-3, 0-0 Big Ten) fell just short in its match against the Arkansas Razorbacks (5-3, 0-0 SEC) on Saturday afternoon, losing 3-4. The Big Red will play again at the Dillon Tennis Center against Gonzaga on Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. (CT).
To start off doubles play against the Razorbacks, No. 1 duo Anton Shepp and Nic Wiedenhorn took on UA’s Jared Horwood and Melvin Manuel. Court One had back and forth games, but the Huskers came out on top, Shepp and Wiedenhorn winning 7-5. Court Two’s Lars Johann and Calvin Mueller were next to finish, clinching the doubles point for the Big Red with their 7-5 win over Gerard Planelles Ripoll and Alan Sau Franco. With the doubles point decided, No. 3 duo Leo Linquet and Shunya Maruyama left the match unfinished against Connor Smillie and Jacob Sweeney, abandoned at 5-6.
Recently ranked No. 113 Anton Shepp took an early and dominant lead over Božo Barun on Court Two to start singles play. Shepp took the first set 6-1, but dropped the second 2-6. The No. 2 matchup went to a third set tie break, and Shepp walked away with the win after taking a huge rally, and a double fault from AU. Shepp improved to 7-1 in spring singles play with the win.
On Court Six, Nikolay Sysoev had a massive set comeback from 1-4, winning five games straight to take the first set 6-4. Sysoev defeated Razorback Karlo Kajin, 6-4, 6-3, securing a singles point for NU.
Christiansen faced Benedikt Emesz on Court Five, and battled but fell 1-6, 3-6, giving UA its first point. Maruyama dropped his first set against Stefanos Savva on Court Four, but had a comeback set win in the second, winning four consecutive games after being down 2-3. Maruyama forced the third set, but was defeated by Savva, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6. On Court Three, Johann took on recently ranked No. 107 Melvin Manuel, and fell after three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 5-7.
In the No. 1 slot, Muller took on Planelles Ripoll, and secured the first set 7-5. Planelles Ripoll came back fighting in the second set, taking it 6-3, to force a third set. With all other singles matches finished, and the team scores 3-3, the match-deciding point came down to Court One’s final set. Mueller battled, but fell short, defeated by Planelles Ripoll, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6.
It was the sixth matchup between NU and UA, and the Big Red fell to 0-6 against Arkansas.
