BERKELEY, Calif. – California held a lead 3-2 late in Saturday's Big Slam at the Hellman Tennis Complex, but the 41st-ranked Golden Bears couldn't close out 12th-ranked Stanford, with the Cardinal prevailing, 4-3. Stanford completed its win when William Genesen defeated Cal sophomore Jack Molloy, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, in what was the Bears' last home match of the regular season.
 
Cal's record fell to 11-10 and 3-3 in the Pac-12. Stanford is now 14-5 (3-3 Pac-12).
 
With Cal Day taking place on campus, the Bears' honoring their alumni on McManus Legends Day and free hamburgers available to fans at Hellman, a large crowd was on hand to cheer on both teams in a long and well-played match.
 
Stanford captured the doubles point with wins on courts one and three, with the Cardinal clinching when Alexandre Rotsaert and Sangeet Sridhar beat Cal sophomore Ben Draper and freshman Yuta Kikuchi, 6-3, on three.
 
But the Bears surged in singles, collecting wins from Kikuchi – who upset the 45th-ranked Rotsaert, 6-1, 6-4, on court one – and junior Bjorn Hoffmann – who topped Michael Genender, 6-2, 6-3, on five – to take a 2-1 lead. Cal later got a court-four win from Draper, who squeaked past Timothy Sah, 7-6(1), 7-6(6), to lead 3-2.
 
After the Cardinal won a long three setter on court two to knot the Big Slam at 3-3, court two finally decided the match.
 
"It was an incredible match, and I'm so proud of how well our guys played today," said Peter Wright, Cal's Director of Men's Tennis. "We played with poise and maturity today, and there was so little between victory and defeat. We've been playing better each week, and it is our intention to continue that rise as we enter the postseason. Our sights are set on our trip to Seattle and Eugene next weekend and then the Pac-12 Championship."
 
Cal ends the regular season on the road next week, as the Bears play at Washington on April 19 and at Oregon on April 20. The Pac-12 Championship tournament runs from April 24-27 in Ojai, California.
 
No. 12 Stanford (14-5, 3-3 Pac-12) defeated No. 41 Cal (11-10, 3-3 Pac-12), 4-3
April 13, 2019, in Berkeley, Calif.
Hellman Tennis Complex
 
Doubles
1. Sameer Kumar/Timothy Sah (Stanford) def. Paul Barretto/Can Kaya (Cal), 6-4
2. Jack Molloy/Mert Zincirli (Cal) vs. William Genesen/Jack Barber (Stanford), 4-3 Did Not Finish
3. Alexendre Rotsaert/Sangeet Sridhar (Stanford) def. Ben Draper/Yuta Kikuchi (Cal), 6-3*
 
Stanford won the doubles point
Order of Finish: 1, 3*
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Singles
1. Yuta Kikuchi (Cal) def. No. 45 Alexendre Rotsaert (Stanford), 6-1, 6-4
2. William Genesen (Stanford) def. Jack Molloy (Cal), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4^
3. No. 91 Sameer Kumar (Stanford) def. Paul Barretto (Cal), 6-4, 1-6, 7-5
4. Ben Draper (Cal) def. Timothy Sah (Stanford), 7-6(1), 7-6(6)
5. Bjorn Hoffmann (Cal) def. Michael Genender (Stanford), 6-2, 6-3
6. Sangeet Sridhar (Stanford) def. Mert Zincirli (Cal), 6-3, 6-2
 
Order of Finish: 1, 5, 6, 4, 3, 2^
^Clinched the overall match