TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil men's tennis senior Makey Rakotomalala battled into the final of the 2019 John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic, defeating three opponents – including one ranked in the Oracle/ITA Poll – before falling to No. 25 Tim Sandkaulen 7-6 (5), 6-4 on Sunday.
Sandkaulen was the No. 1 seed heading into the tournament, while Rakotomalala did not earn a seed from the tournament. He began the tournament with a straight set win over Luke Hammond of Oklahoma State 6-2, 7-6 (5). The Frenchmen carried his momentum into another straight set win over Ivailo Keremedchiev of Louisiana 6-3, 6-2.
Just one more win away from the finals, Rakotomalala faced off against No. 97 Chase Ferguson of South Florida in the semifinals of the tournament. Rakotomalala again came out victorious, this time 6-3, 6-4.
In the finals, Rakotomalala took on Ole Miss' No. 1 in Sandkaulen, battling to a three set affair in Lafayette. The Rebel took the first set 6-3 while the Sun Devil took the second, 7-5. Sandkaulen came out on top in the end, taking the final set 6-1.
Freshman Christian Lerby also participated in the tournament, defeating Christopher Frantzen of Baylor in the first round to advance to the second. Lerby lost to eventual champion Sandkaulen in the second round.
The men also paired together to compete in the doubles portion of the tournament, but fell to eventual finals competitor Christopher Frantzen/Constantin Frantzen of Baylor in the first round.
Sun Devil men's tennis is back in action this week at the ITA $25K Futures beginning on September 30. Fans can keep up with the action all season long by following @SunDevilMTennis on Twitter.
Sandkaulen was the No. 1 seed heading into the tournament, while Rakotomalala did not earn a seed from the tournament. He began the tournament with a straight set win over Luke Hammond of Oklahoma State 6-2, 7-6 (5). The Frenchmen carried his momentum into another straight set win over Ivailo Keremedchiev of Louisiana 6-3, 6-2.
Just one more win away from the finals, Rakotomalala faced off against No. 97 Chase Ferguson of South Florida in the semifinals of the tournament. Rakotomalala again came out victorious, this time 6-3, 6-4.
In the finals, Rakotomalala took on Ole Miss' No. 1 in Sandkaulen, battling to a three set affair in Lafayette. The Rebel took the first set 6-3 while the Sun Devil took the second, 7-5. Sandkaulen came out on top in the end, taking the final set 6-1.
Freshman Christian Lerby also participated in the tournament, defeating Christopher Frantzen of Baylor in the first round to advance to the second. Lerby lost to eventual champion Sandkaulen in the second round.
The men also paired together to compete in the doubles portion of the tournament, but fell to eventual finals competitor Christopher Frantzen/Constantin Frantzen of Baylor in the first round.
Sun Devil men's tennis is back in action this week at the ITA $25K Futures beginning on September 30. Fans can keep up with the action all season long by following @SunDevilMTennis on Twitter.