TEMPE – The final match of the regular season featured a duel under the lights at Whiteman Tennis Center, with No. 44 Sun Devil men's tennis (13-10, 2-6) falling to the No. 16 Arizona Wildcats (20-5, 6-2), 4-2 with Jacob Ballard and No. 40 Murphy Cassone winning their respective single's matches in front of a energetic crowd Saturday night. The Sun Devils will shift their focus to the Pac-12 Tournament which begins Wednesday April 26.
Ballard won his fourth three-set match of the season, his first since March 17, 2023 against California, and Cassone continuing his winning ways, with his 11th straight-sets win of the year.
How It Happened:
Up Next
The Sun Devils return to action for the Pac-12 Championships in Ojai, Calif.on April 26–29. Follow @SunDevilMTennis on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest news and updates.
4/22/2023 at Tempe, AZ
Whiteman Tennis Center
No. 16 Arizona Wildcats 4 vs. No. 44 Arizona State Sun Devils 2
DOUBLES:
Jonas Ziverts/Jay Friend (UoA) def. Jacob Bullard/Constantinos Koshis – (6-2)
Murphy Cassone/Max Mckennon (ASU) vs. Colton Smith/Herman Hoeyeraal – (5-5) (Unfinished)
Gustaf Strom/Eric Padgham (UoA) def. Roi Cinat/Nicola Cigna – (6-4)
Order of Finish: 1, 3
SINGLES:
No.40 Murphy Cassone ASU def. Jonas Ziverts (6-4,6-2)
Colton Smith (UoA) def. Max McKennnon (3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7))
Jacob Bullard (ASU) def. Gustaf Strom (6-3, 4-6, 6-4)
Herman Hoeyeraal (UoA) def. Constantinos Koshis (6-4, 6-3)
Roi Ginat (ASU) vs. Jay Friend (7-6 (8-5), 2-6, 5-5) (Unfinished)
Nick Lagaev (UoA) def. Spencer Brachmann (7-6 (8-5), 7-5)
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 4 2, 6
Ballard won his fourth three-set match of the season, his first since March 17, 2023 against California, and Cassone continuing his winning ways, with his 11th straight-sets win of the year.
How It Happened:
- The Wildcats found the early momentum by claiming the doubles point, but Murphy Cassone and Max McKinnon's match on court No. 2 went unfinished with their doubles match being tied 5-all.
- The Sun Devils responded vigilantly with Cassone, McKinnon and Roi Ginat winning their first sets in their matches, including Ginat winning his tiebreaker 7-5 over Jay Friend of Arizona
- Cassone took the momentum of winning his opening set, by cruising to a straight sets victory over Jonas Ziverts, 6-4, 6-2 to winning his fourth straight-set match in conference play this season. His fourth consecutive win going into the postseason.
- Constantinos Koshis fell on court No. 3 to Gustaf Strom in straight sets, but the Sun Devils rebounded with Jacob Bullard winning a gritty three-set match 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
- The next three remaining matches decided the match with each side unable to obtain a break point, Max McKinnon and Colton Smith headed to a tiebreaker in the third set, where Smith would prevail holding of a McKinnon match point, ultimately falling 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (9-7).
- Then moments later the Wildcats clinched the critical territorial cup point with Nick Lagaev edging out Spencer Brachman where only one break point was secured for the entire match, 6-7 (5-7), 5-7.
Up Next
The Sun Devils return to action for the Pac-12 Championships in Ojai, Calif.on April 26–29. Follow @SunDevilMTennis on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest news and updates.
4/22/2023 at Tempe, AZ
Whiteman Tennis Center
No. 16 Arizona Wildcats 4 vs. No. 44 Arizona State Sun Devils 2
DOUBLES:
Jonas Ziverts/Jay Friend (UoA) def. Jacob Bullard/Constantinos Koshis – (6-2)
Murphy Cassone/Max Mckennon (ASU) vs. Colton Smith/Herman Hoeyeraal – (5-5) (Unfinished)
Gustaf Strom/Eric Padgham (UoA) def. Roi Cinat/Nicola Cigna – (6-4)
Order of Finish: 1, 3
SINGLES:
No.40 Murphy Cassone ASU def. Jonas Ziverts (6-4,6-2)
Colton Smith (UoA) def. Max McKennnon (3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7))
Jacob Bullard (ASU) def. Gustaf Strom (6-3, 4-6, 6-4)
Herman Hoeyeraal (UoA) def. Constantinos Koshis (6-4, 6-3)
Roi Ginat (ASU) vs. Jay Friend (7-6 (8-5), 2-6, 5-5) (Unfinished)
Nick Lagaev (UoA) def. Spencer Brachmann (7-6 (8-5), 7-5)
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 4 2, 6