Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Just like its first-round match, fourth-seeded Utah State men's tennis' semifinal matchup against top-seeded New Mexico came down to the final court in the 2023 Mountain West Men's Tennis Championships.
And just like in that first round, the Aggies came out victorious.
USU (12-12, 3-3 MW) started off strong after claiming the doubles points with a pair of victories on courts 1 and 2. Junior Jack Ninteman and senior Javier Ruiz logged a 6-2 win against Rafael Abdulsalam and Aram Noroozian at No. 2 doubles, while Stijn Paardekooper and freshman Nuno Pinheiro clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 victory against Alexander Maggs and Arda Azkara at the No. 1 spot.
New Mexico (15-6), who secured the regular season title after going an undefeated 6-0 in conference play, evened the score at 1-1 after Georgio Samaha defeated Ruiz 6-3, 6-4 on court 6. Paardekooper put Utah State back on top 2-1 with a straight-set victory of his own at No. 2 singles, defeating Abdulsalam 6-4, 6-4.
The Lobos responded quickly, claiming back-to-back victories to hold a 3-2 edge. Ryoma Matsushita defeated senior Roko Savin 6-2, 7-6 (3) at the No. 4 spot, while Azkara won a tight battle against senior David Cierny on court 1, 6-4, 7-5.
Down one with two matches still going, sophomore Sergi Micó Fenollar won his tiebreaker to tie the match at 3-all with a 7-5, 7-6 (4) win against Noroozian at No. 3 singles.
Everything then came down to court five.
Pinheiro won his first set 6-2, but Nikolay Sysoev bounced back to win the second 7-5. With one set left between going to the championship match or back home to Logan, the freshman from Sintra, Portugal, clinched the Utah State victory with a 6-4 win in set 3.
Utah State will face No. 3 Boise State in the MW Championship on Friday, April 23, at 6 p.m.
Fans can follow USU's men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at /UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram at USUMensTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
Utah State vs New Mexico
April 27, 2023
Darling Tennis Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
RESULTS
Utah State 4, New Mexico 3
Doubles
1. Nuno Pinheiro/Stijn Paardekooper (USU) def. Alex Maggs/Arda Azkara (UNM) 6-3
2. Javier Ruiz/Jack Ninteman (USU) def. Rafael Abdulsalam/Aram Noroozian (UNM) 6-2
3. Georgio Samaha/Ryoma Matsushita (UNM) def. David Cierny/Sergi Micó Fenollar (USU) 6-2
Singles
1. Arda Azkara (UNM) def. David Cierny (USU) 6-4, 7-5
2. Stijn Paardekooper (USU) def. Rafael Abdulsalam (UNM) 6-4, 6-4
3. Sergi Micó Fenollar (USU) def. Aram Noroozian (UNM) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Ryoma Matsushita (UNM) def. Roko Savin (USU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Nuno Pinheiro (USU) def. Nikolay Sysoev (UNM) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
6. Georgio Samaha (UNM) def. Javier Ruiz (USU) 6-3, 6-4
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,1,4,2,3,5)
Utah State: 12-12, 3-3 MW
New Mexico: 15-6, 6-0 MW; National Ranking #60
- USU -
