Huskies Fall In Pac-12 Opener At No. 20 Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. – Washington dropped its Pac-12 opener today at 20th-ranked Arizona in a match that was much closer than the final 7-0 count indicated. Four tiebreaks all went against the Huskies late, one that could have kept the Huskies in contention, then three more that gave final points to the 10-1 Wildcats.
 
"We had some guys that really were pretty solid today," said Head Coach Matt Anger. "I'm crushed with this match. Without playing our best we could have broken through, and then in the end we've lost 7-0. I'm counting the days until we play them again. Our guys handled themselves right and didn't pull any gamesmanship, our guys were just trying to do their best. If they learn from it then we'll be all right."
 
Arizona had taken the doubles point and had wins at No. 2 and No. 5 singles to go up 3-0, but Washington was leading on courts one and three, and on track to force a third set at court four. Then at No. 6, Adam Torocsik took his second set into a tiebreak against Arizona's Nick Lagaev, needing to win it to really put the pressure on the home team. But Lagaev was able to pull out the breaker, 7-3, to get Arizona's fourth point.
 
From there the Huskies were unable to close out their chances in the remaining three matches. Chidekh let one get away at No. 1 singles for his first defeat of the season, as he led 4-1 and 5-3 in the third set and had two match points, but 50th-ranked Jonas Ziverts came back to win, 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (4). Ewen Lumsden and Han-Chih Lin split their sets at No. 3 and No. 4 singles, both taking on ranked opponents. With Arizona having clinched, both matches went to 10-point tiebreaks to decide things, but Arizona came out on top in both.
 
The Huskies (4-4) will have another tough task this Sunday as they move on to face 21st-ranked Arizona State in another 1 p.m. Pacific start.
 

February 26, 2021
LaNelle Robson Tennis Center | Tucson, Ariz.
 
Washington – 0
No. 20 Arizona – 7
 
Singles
1. (#50) Jonas Ziverts (Ariz) def. Clement Chidekh (UW), 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (4)
2. Alejandro Reguant (Ariz) def. (#65) Jack Davis (UW), 6-1, 6-0
3. (#105) Gustaf Strom (Ariz) def. Ewen Lumsden (UW), 5-7, 6-4, (10-3)
4. (#54) Filip Malbasic (Ariz) def. Han-Chih Lin (UW), 6-4, 2-6, (10-7)
5. Carlos Hassey (Ariz) def. Jack Pulliam (UW), 6-4, 6-1
6. Nick Lagaev (Ariz) def. Adam Torocsik (UW), 6-2, 7-6 (3)
Order of finish: 2, 5, 6, 4, 1, 3
 
Doubles
1. Davis/Alvarez (UW) vs. Middleton/Ziverts (Ariz), 4-5 DNF
2. Hassey/Reguant (Ariz) def. Cancel/Chidekh (UW), 6-1
3. Malbasic/Lagaev (Ariz) def. Lumsden/Lin (UW), 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3