Geerts Upsets Top-Ranked Player in Loss to No. 2 UCLA

By Evan Millstein, SDA Student Assistant 

TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 33 Arizona State men's tennis team fell to No. 2 UCLA 4-2 despite capturing the doubles point and Michaël Geerts' victory over the No. 1 player in the nation. The matchup was the liveliest at the Whiteman Tennis Center so far this season, notching a season-high 432 attendance.

The pair of Benjamin Hannestad and William Kirkman defeated Bryce Pereira and Maxime Cressy in the first doubles match 6-4. 

Team captain Geerts and Tim Ruehl improved to a team-leading 4-1 in conference doubles play with a point-clinching win against No. 59 Martin Redlicki and Evan Zhu. The match was competitive from the beginning, with the Devils tandem falling behind 3-4, only to tie it up at four a piece en route to the victory.

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—%20Sun%20Devil%20M.%20Tennis%20(@SunDevilMTennis)%20April%2014,%202018

%20">Devils secure the doubles point! Geerts/Ruehl defeat UCLA 6-4! ???? pic.twitter.com/vDnzHlzi3k — Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) April 14, 2018

In singles play, the Bruins knotted the match at one as No. 55 Keegan Smith defeated Makey Rakotomalala in straight sets. The loss halts Rakotomalala's five-game winning streak, but the Frenchman is still second on the team in wins only to Geerts' 13 on the season.

The 27th-ranked Geerts added to his impressive resume in the evening matchup. The senior leader defeated the No. 1 player in the nation in Martin Redlicki in straight sets 7-5,6-4. Geerts now has wins over the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world after defeating Ohio State's Mikael Torpegaard at Indian Wells earlier in the campaign, with both victories coming in straight sets. The win also gives Geerts seven wins in his last nine matchups and five wins over ranked opponents.

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Geerts takes down No.1 Martin Redlicki in two sets, 7-5, 6-4.

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Hannestad fell to No. 81 Evan Zhu 6-4,6-4 and is now 17-9 overall on the season. 

William Kirkman suffered his first conference loss of the season, dropping singles match six 6-4,6-2 to Connor Hance. 

UCLA clinched the match 4-2 with a victory on court three as Maxime Cressy defeated Andrea Bolla 6-1,6-4

Tim Ruehl and No. 87 Logan Staggs split the first two sets before going unfinished (6-1, 3-6, 0-1) with the Bruin victory. 

Thank%20you%20for%20your%20support%20tonight,%20Sun%20Devil%20Nation!%20pic.twitter.com/cPhMFs2jY3

—%20Sun%20Devil%20M.%20Tennis%20(@SunDevilMTennis)%20April%2014,%202018%20">Tweet #

Thank%20you%20for%20your%20support%20tonight,%20Sun%20Devil%20Nation!%20pic.twitter.com/cPhMFs2jY3

—%20Sun%20Devil%20M.%20Tennis%20(@SunDevilMTennis)%20April%2014,%202018

%20">Thank you for your support tonight, Sun Devil Nation! pic.twitter.com/cPhMFs2jY3 — Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) April 14, 2018

The Sun Devils face the USC Trojans on Sunday, April 15 at 1 p.m. MST at Whiteman Tennis Center in Tempe, AZ. 
 

NO. 2 UCLA 4

NO. 33 ARIZONA STATE 2

Doubles Finals:

1. Geerts/Ruehl (ASU) def. No. 59 Redlicki/Zhu (UCLA) | 6-4
2. Rakotomalala/Bolla (ASU) def. No. 11 A Rapp/Smith (UCLA) | 6-4
3. Perreira/Cressy (UCLA) def. Hannestad/Kirkman (ASU) | 6-2

Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles Finals:

1. No. 27 Michael Geerts (ASU) def. No. 1 Martin Redlicki (UCLA) | 7-5, 6-4
2. No. 81 Evan Zhu (UCLA) def. No. 72 Ben Hannestad (ASU) | 6-4, 6-4
3. No. 55 Keegan Smith (UCLA) def. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) | 6-2, 6-3
4. Tim Ruehl (ASU) vs. No. 87 Logan Staggs (UCLA) | 6-1, 3-6, 0-1 unf.
5. Maxime Cressy (UCLA) def. Andrea Bolla (ASU) | 6-1, 6-4
6. Connor Hance (UCLA) def. Will Kirkman (ASU) | 6-4, 6-2

Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2, 6, 5