Razorbacks down Gamecocks for third straight SEC opening victory

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas men’s tennis team opened Southeastern Conference play with a 5-2 win at home over the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The win marks the third-consecutive season that the third-consecutive season that the Razorbacks have won the SEC opener.

Arkansas jumped to a quick 1-0 lead with a pair of doubles wins on courts one and three. Oscar Mesquida and his partner Adam Sanjurjo def. Daniel Rodrigues and Raphael Lambling (USC) 6-1. The win was quickly followed up with a win on court three by Alex Reco and Jose Dominguez Alonso 6-3.

In singles play, Arkansas jumped to a 2-0 lead on court three with a 6-2, 6-0 win by Josh Howard-Tripp over Yancy Dennis (USC). Carolina would cut it to within 2-1 as fourth-ranked Paul Jub (USC) def. No. 102 Oscar Mesquida 6-4, 6-2 on court one.

The Gamecocks couldn’t cut it any closer as consecutive victories on courts four and six sealed it for Arkansas, 4-1. Alex Reco def. No. 95 Raphael Lambling 7-6(4), 6-2. The match was clinched on court six with a 6-3, 6-4 win by Jose Dominguez Alonso over Jake Beasley 6-3, 6-4.

Singles Results – Order of Finish (3,1,4,6,2,5)

1. #4 Paul Jubb (SC) def. #102 Oscar Mesquida (AR) 6-4, 6-2
2. #76 Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 6-4, 6-3
3. Josh Howard-Tripp (AR) def. Yancy Dennis (SC) 6-2, 6-0
4. Alex Reco (AR) def. #95 Raphael Lambling (SC) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
5. Enrique Paya (AR) def. Joseph Brailovsky (SC) 7-5, 6-3
6. Jose Alonso (AR) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles Results – Order of Finish (1,3)

1. Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo (AR) def. Daniel Rodrigues/Raphael Lambling (SC) 6-1
2. Maxim Verboven/Enrique Paya (AR) vs. Paul Jubb/Joseph Brailovsky (SC) 4-5, unfinished
3. Alex Reco/Jose Alonso (AR) def. Yancy Dennis/Jake Beasley (SC) 6-3