TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 18 Arizona State Men’s Tennis team decisively won their season-opening doubleheader, defeating LMU 7-0 and New Mexico State 6-1. ASU aims to maintain its momentum and swiftly travels to challenge the number one ranked Texas Longhorns on January 19.
Head Coach Matt Hill commended his team and the newcomers who made their Sun Devil debuts, stating, “It’s wonderful to watch them compete in a match so confidently,” pointing out freshman Tanner Povey’s victory against NMSU from the second spot and graduate transfer Matic Dimic’s clutch performances after securing both wins for the Sun Devils.
Arizona State 7, LMU 0
Sun Devil returners, Nicola Cigna and Constantinos Koshis, began the doubles match with an impressive 6-0 win from the third spot. Tanner Povey and Daniel Phillips secured the doubles point on court two, giving ASU a 1-0 lead. The Slovenian team of Bor Artnak and Matic Dimic lost their first doubles match together after continuing the game after the clinch.
The Sun Devils built on their impressive doubles play in singles, winning their first match of the season without requiring a single third set. Artnak initially scored a point by winning the first set 6-1 and fought back from a 1-4 disadvantage to secure the second set 6-4. The squad emulated his successful approach and secured victories in the next five singles matches as the teams competed in singles during Thursday’s event.
Individual Contest:
Bor Artnak (ASU) wins. Arthur Pantino (LMU) 6-1, 6-4
Constantinos Koshis (ASU) won. Sebastian Nothhaft (LMU) 6-3, 6-2
Nicola Cigna (ASU) wins. Alex Padro (LMU) 6-1, 6-3
Daniel Philips (ASU) defeated. Cesar Cruz (LMU) 7-6 (0), 6-4
Matic Dimic (ASU) defeated. Inigo Diaz (LMU) 6-4, 6-1
Roi Ginat (ASU) won against. Nic Pesoli (LMU) 6-2, 6-1
Finishing order: 1, 6, 5, 3, 2, 4
Doubles Contest:
Sebastian Nothhaft/Cesar Cruz (LMU) won against. Bor Artnak/Matic Dimic (ASU) 6-4
Tanner Povey and Daniel Phillips from ASU defeated. Alex Padro Parra/Inigo Diaz (LMU) 6-4
Nicola Cigna/Constantinos Koshis (ASU) won against. Arthur Pantino / Sasch Nothdurft (LMU) 6-0
Finishing order: 3, 2, 1
Arizona State 6, New Mexico State 1
The Sun Devils clinched the first two doubles contests, gaining the doubles point after Philips and Povey triumphed again, 6-1, and Artnak and Dimic secured a dramatic victory 7-6 (5) for their initial win together.
Artnak resumed from his previous position, securing a 6-0, 6-1 victory to capture the first singles point. Ginat secured a donut in his second set to win his match, and another singles point, 6-2, 6-0. Dimic’s 6-2, 6-2 victory secured the four points for Arizona State while the teams completed the singles matches. Povey secured his initial singles victory as a Sun Devil, achieving a 6-4, 6-2 win from the second spot.
Individual Contest:
Bor Artnak (ASU) won. Tobias Wallin (NMSU) 6-0, 6-1
Tanner Povey (ASU) won against. Holland Snell (NMSU) 6-4, 6-2
Daniel Phillips (ASU) won against. Italy Feigin (NMSU) won with scores of 6-2, 6-4.
Matic Dimic (ASU) wins. Matias Rojas (NMSU) 6-2, 6-2
Roi Ginat (ASU) won against. Gustavo Campos (NMSU) 6-2, 6-0
Lance Urlaub (NMSU) defeat. Mikey Anderson (ASU) 7-6 (2), 6-2
Finishing order: 1, 5, 4, 2, 3, 6
Doubles Contest:
Bor Artnak/Matic Dimic (ASU) won against. Tobias Wallin/Gustavo Campos (NMSU) 7-6 (5)
Tanner Povey and Daniel Phillips (ASU) won against. Holland Snell/Matias Rojas (NMSU) 6-4
Lance Urlaub/Patrick Lohmann (NMSU) won. Mikey Anderson/Finn Willwerth (ASU) 6’0″
Finishing order: 2, 3, 1
The Sun Devils will embark on their first away game this season against No. 1-ranked Texas on Sunday, January 19.
