Tennis

Head coach Rodrigo da Silva expressed his pride in the team’s competitive spirit, stating, “I’m very proud of how the guys competed today. To come back from losing five first sets in an away match is amazing. Now, it’s time to go back to the drawing board to make sure we don’t put ourselves in that situation again.”

In their last doubleheader, Kentucky showcased their talent by sweeping both Northern Kentucky and EKU with a 7-0 result against each team. Graduate JJ Mercer and freshman Matt Rankin were standout players, each securing four wins for the Wildcats.

Originally, the Cardinals were set to have a doubleheader against both Lipscomb and EKU. However, due to unfortunate weather conditions, Lipscomb will no longer be able to make the trip.

Head coach Rodrigo da Silva expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “It’s great to start the season with two wins. I’m really proud of the guys and how they competed, especially the freshmen who were playing in their first matches today. Hopefully, we can build on today’s success and continue our momentum into the upcoming matches.”

Coach Beckham and Mould sat down for a press conference, which allowed them to address various topics and answer burning questions. For those who missed out on the live action, the full press conference is still available for viewing.

The Cardinals will kick off their season with a doubleheader at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on Wednesday. They will face Xavier at noon and Bellarmine at 5 p.m. ET. Louisville has a perfect record against both teams, with historic success against them dating back to the early days of the program.

This season, the Cardinals will play a total of 16 matches at home. The team’s roster is a mix of both experienced players and newcomers. Returning doubles All-American Natan Rodrigues and ranked singles player Etienne Donnet will provide a strong foundation for the team. Will Mayew and Matthew Fung, both ranked in the ITA Singles Top 60, along with Andre’ Steinbach, will also be returning for the Cardinals.

Kentucky began the day by facing off against Northern Kentucky. The team put on an impressive performance, sweeping all matches in straight sets. In the doubles session, the duo of Josh Lapadat and JJ Mercer secured a 6-0 victory over Northern Kentucky’s Santiago Casamayor and Josef Zapletal. Eli Stephenson and Jaden Weekes also contributed to the doubles point win with a 6-2 result on court three. Meanwhile, Taha Baadi and Matt Rankin teamed up for a 6-4 win on court two.

Kentucky is coming off an impressive run, making it to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year in 2023. Over the past two seasons, the team has boasted a 53-13 record. The Wildcats are ranked No. 11 in the preseason, making it the fifth straight year that head coach Cedric Kauffmann’s squad has appeared in the ITA top-25.

Lapadat has proven himself to be a consistent winner during his time at Kentucky. He boasts an impressive 64-12 singles record in dual matches, as well as a 36-23 doubles record. The London, Ontario native was even named the 2023 SEC Tournament MVP after helping Kentucky secure their second conference tournament title in program history last year. In addition to this accolade, Lapadat was also honored as a First-Team All-SEC selection, building on his Second Team recognition from the 2022 season.