After a 30-minute rain delay, the TCU men’s tennis team continued their winning ways as they beat the Rice Owls 4-1 on a windy chilly Friday afternoon.
The Horned Frogs sealed their victory as freshman Alex Rybakov defeated Tommy Bennett by winning both sets 6-1,6-4.
Rybakov won the first easily, but Bennett put a fight matching Rybakov set for set. It wasn’t until both players were tied at 4-4 that Rybakov ran away with it.
“Our top of the lineup took care of business,” said head coach David Roditi. “We got three quick points and that got us to get out of there.”
Sophomore Trevor Johnson won the first singles match of the day, defeating Emanuel Llamas (6-3,6-2), and sophomore Cameron Norrie defeated Jake Hansen, winning both sets 6-2.
“The guys did a good job of just settling down,” said Roditi, “and the conditions were tough today. It’s hard to go out there and play perfect tennis when it’s windy and a little chilly.”
The lone match the Frogs lost was Adam Gustafsson defeating sophomore Guillermo Nunez.
“Obviously Nunez didn’t play his best, but Gustafsson played great and did a good job of exploiting Gulli’s weakness.”
In doubles, Johnson and Nunez defeated Bennett and David Warren 6-2, and Norrie and Ryabkov defeated Hansen and Llamas, 6-3.
Roditi said the key for the Horned Frogs this season has been “staying prepared and focused.”
The Frogs continue their five game home stand on April 6th against SMU.
