University of Georgia Athletics
Sunday, April 23
Auburn, Ala.
4:30 p.m. ET
University of Georgia
3
vs
4
Kentucky
Bulldogs Fall in 4-3 Heartbreaker at SEC Tournament Championship
April 23, 2023 | Men's Tennis
AUBURN, Ala. – The top-seeded University of Georgia men's tennis team fell to No. 3-seed Kentucky, 4-3, in the finals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs (20-6, 12-0 SEC) lost the match after dropping singles matches on courts two, three, four and five to the Wildcats (24-4, 9-3 SEC). Georgia earned the doubles point and won courts one and six in singles competition. Ethan Quinn and Teodor Giusca were named to the all-SEC Tournament Team.
"Credit to Kentucky, they played better than we did during some of the most important points," said head coach Manny Diaz. "We had opportunities to win, but I'm so proud of the way we competed and fought today. This will make us stronger."
The Bulldogs clinched the doubles point for the 15th time this season with wins from courts one and three. Blake Croyder and Britton Johnston held serve through 3-3 but won two breaks in the final three games to take the match 6-3, earning their 20th doubles win together this year and fourth in a row. No. 7 Trent Bryde and Ethan Quinn won their team-best 15th match of the spring with a 6-4 defeat of No. 23 Alafia Ayeni and Taha Baadi, earning their fifth point-clinching win of the season.
Kentucky managed to tie up the match after a straight set win on court three, where No. 119 Trent Bryde fell to No. 56 Joshua Lapadat by a 6-2, 6-4 score. The Bulldogs managed to regain the lead, though, after Giusca notched his fifth win on court five with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Charlelie Cosnet. The redshirt senior earned his 21st victory of the year and 12th of the dual match season.
No. 4 Quinn defeated No. 19 Liam Draxl for the second time this season in straight sets, by a 7-5, 6-2 score, and gave the Bulldogs match point. The Bulldogs were unable to find the last point they needed, though, as the Wildcats would take third sets on courts two, four and finally on five to clinch the win and the SEC Championship.
Georgia will now await its regional assignment for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament on Friday through Sunday, May 5-7.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's Tennis on social media on Twitter and Instagram @UGATennis, on Facebook @UGAMensTennis, and online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
#5 Kentucky 4, #4 Georgia 3
Singles competition
1. #4 Ethan Quinn (UGA) def. #19 Liam Draxl (UK) 7-5, 6-2
2. #25 Alafia Ayeni (UK) def. #15 Philip Henning (UGA) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. #56 Joshua Lapadat (UK) def. #119 Trent Bryde (UGA) 6-2, 6-4
4. Taha Baadi (UK) def. #101 Blake Croyder (UGA) 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5
5. Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(7)
6. Teodor Giusca (UGA) def. Charlelie Cosnet (UK) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 6, 1, 2, 4, 5*
Doubles competition
1. #7 Trent Bryde/Ethan Quinn (UGA) def. #23 Alafia Ayeni/Taha Baadi (UK) 6-4
2. Teodor Giusca/Philip Henning (UGA) vs. No. 67 JJ Mercer/Joshua Lapadat (UK) 6-5, unfinished
3. Blake Croyder/Britton Johnston (UGA) def. Liam Draxl/Jaden Weekes (UK) 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 1*
The Bulldogs (20-6, 12-0 SEC) lost the match after dropping singles matches on courts two, three, four and five to the Wildcats (24-4, 9-3 SEC). Georgia earned the doubles point and won courts one and six in singles competition. Ethan Quinn and Teodor Giusca were named to the all-SEC Tournament Team.
"Credit to Kentucky, they played better than we did during some of the most important points," said head coach Manny Diaz. "We had opportunities to win, but I'm so proud of the way we competed and fought today. This will make us stronger."
The Bulldogs clinched the doubles point for the 15th time this season with wins from courts one and three. Blake Croyder and Britton Johnston held serve through 3-3 but won two breaks in the final three games to take the match 6-3, earning their 20th doubles win together this year and fourth in a row. No. 7 Trent Bryde and Ethan Quinn won their team-best 15th match of the spring with a 6-4 defeat of No. 23 Alafia Ayeni and Taha Baadi, earning their fifth point-clinching win of the season.
Kentucky managed to tie up the match after a straight set win on court three, where No. 119 Trent Bryde fell to No. 56 Joshua Lapadat by a 6-2, 6-4 score. The Bulldogs managed to regain the lead, though, after Giusca notched his fifth win on court five with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Charlelie Cosnet. The redshirt senior earned his 21st victory of the year and 12th of the dual match season.
No. 4 Quinn defeated No. 19 Liam Draxl for the second time this season in straight sets, by a 7-5, 6-2 score, and gave the Bulldogs match point. The Bulldogs were unable to find the last point they needed, though, as the Wildcats would take third sets on courts two, four and finally on five to clinch the win and the SEC Championship.
Georgia will now await its regional assignment for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament on Friday through Sunday, May 5-7.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's Tennis on social media on Twitter and Instagram @UGATennis, on Facebook @UGAMensTennis, and online at GeorgiaDogs.com.
#5 Kentucky 4, #4 Georgia 3
Singles competition
1. #4 Ethan Quinn (UGA) def. #19 Liam Draxl (UK) 7-5, 6-2
2. #25 Alafia Ayeni (UK) def. #15 Philip Henning (UGA) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. #56 Joshua Lapadat (UK) def. #119 Trent Bryde (UGA) 6-2, 6-4
4. Taha Baadi (UK) def. #101 Blake Croyder (UGA) 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5
5. Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(7)
6. Teodor Giusca (UGA) def. Charlelie Cosnet (UK) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 6, 1, 2, 4, 5*
Doubles competition
1. #7 Trent Bryde/Ethan Quinn (UGA) def. #23 Alafia Ayeni/Taha Baadi (UK) 6-4
2. Teodor Giusca/Philip Henning (UGA) vs. No. 67 JJ Mercer/Joshua Lapadat (UK) 6-5, unfinished
3. Blake Croyder/Britton Johnston (UGA) def. Liam Draxl/Jaden Weekes (UK) 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 1*
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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