Razorbacks start weekend with loss to No. 17 Kentucky

FAYETTEVILLE — No. 17 Kentucky defeated No. 32 Arkansas 4-1 on Friday night at the George M. Billingsley Tennis Center.

The Wildcats (10-3, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) took a competitive doubles point and went on to win three of four finished singles matches.

After Kentucky struck first with a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles, the Razorbacks’ (5-6, 1-1 SEC) duo of sophomore Giulia Pairone and senior Mia Jurasic returned the favor with a 6-4 victory at No. 2. The score at the top spot was tied 5-5, but the Wildcats’ No. 40 pair of Mami Adachi and Emily Fanning rallied to pick of the next two games and secure the opening point against Arkansas’ No. 30 junior Ana Oparenovic and freshman Tatum Rice. It was Oparenovic and Rices’ first setback of the spring, placing their record at 9-1.

In singles, junior Agne Cepelyte was first off the court, besting her opponent 6-3, 6-2. Kentucky won the next three matches at the No. 4, 2, and 5 positions for the overall team victory.

At the clinch, No. 66 Pairone was about to begin a third set after turning in a 6-0 win in the second set. Jurasic was battling in a third set at No. 3.

Up Next
Arkansas will host No. 4 Vanderbilt at noon CT Sunday. Admission is free. Pizza, Keurig products, popcorn and Pepsi soft drinks will be provided for fans in attendance. Fans can also follow the match via live scoring at RazorbackStats.com.