TCU Men’s Tennis: Frogs Begin the Outdoor Season
Last month, the TCU men’s tennis team made history, winning their first-ever national championship at the ITA Team Indoor National Championship in Seattle. The Frogs had just over a week to enjoy that before getting back out on the courts to open the outdoor season that will continue into May.
First up was a dual with Michigan held in Fort Worth on March 2. The Frogs ended up losing this match 4-1. This was only their second loss of the entire season (indoor and outdoor). Then last weekend, the Frogs made their first true road trip and came away with a win over Illinois 4-2.
Here is a recap of both of those duals:
Michigan 4 – TCU 1 – March 2 – Fort Worth, Texas
It was only the second time all season that the Frogs suffered a loss. Also, for only the second time, TCU lost the doubles point. Jake Fearnley won the only point for TCU playing at No. 5 in singles.
It took a tiebreaker on No. 3 in the doubles matches for Michigan to win the point. They won two singles matches in straight sets putting the Frogs quickly behind 0-3 before Fearnley’s win.
In the doubles matches, Luc Fomba and Fearnley lost their match at No. 1, 2-6. Sander Jong and Lui Maxted got a late break in their match to win 6-4. This duo has the best record on the team at 10-1, and they are 3-0 versus ranked opponents. Then it was up to Juan Carlos Aguilar and Pedro Vives playing at No. 3. This match went into a tiebreaker, which Michigan won 7-3. TCU is 1-1 when losing the doubles point.
In the singles matches, Jong and Vives, playing at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively, lost in straight sets, giving Michigan the 3-0 edge. Fearnley got the lone point for TCU winning his match 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. Aguilar then lost his match in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 2-6, securing the victory for the Wolverines. Fomba and Maxted were both playing in their third sets when the dual was clinched.
TCU 4 – Illinois - 2 – March 5 – Urbana, Illinois
Just a few days later, the Horned Frogs made their first true road trip of the season to Urbana, IL, to take on Illinois. They got back into their winning ways, once again winning the doubles point; then winning three singles matches to clinch their 13th victory of the season. Due to the weather, this match did have to be played indoors. TCU improved to 13-1 indoors this season. TCU is 27-6 in doubles matches played indoors this season, and they have won 13 of 14 doubles points indoors.
In the doubles matches, Aguilar and Vives were paired together again at No. 3. They were the first to win, winning their set 7-5. Vives improved to 2-1 in doubles while Aguilar improved to 7-4. The next victory was Fomba and Fearnley, again at No. 1. They won their set 7-6 (7-5). They were down 1-4 in the tiebreaker, then won six of the next seven points to secure the point. This pairing is ranked No. 5 in the nation, and the pair they beat was ranked No. 40. This game was Fomba and Fearnley’s fifth win over a ranked opponent.
In the singles matches, Fearnley lost in straight sets at No. 4, 3-6, 1-6, giving Illinois a point to tie the dual score 1-1. Vives won in straight sets at No. 5, 6-2, 6-4, then Aguilar won at No. 2, 6-4, 6-4. Illinois got another point, winning at No. 6 to bring the dual score to 3-2. After losing his first set, Jong was able to win his match at No. 3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to clinch the win for the Frogs.
TCU is now 13-2 for the season, and 8-2 versus teams ranked in the Top 25. TCU is ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Next up: TCU travels to Los Angeles to take on UCLA on Thursday, March 10.
2022 Men’s Tennis Schedule/Results
January 12 vs. UTRGV – Won 6-1
January 14 vs. Florida – Won 4-3
January 16 vs. Tennessee – Lost 3-4
January 27 vs. Abilene Christian – Won 4-1
January 29 vs. Portland – Won 4-0
January 30 vs. Tulsa – Won 4-0
February 6 vs. Ole Miss – Won 4-3
February 11 at Mississippi State – Won 6-1
February 13 vs. Virginia – Won 4-1
February 18-21 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Indoor Nationals Championship
February 18 vs. Virginia – Won 4-2
February 19 vs. Texas – Won 4-0
February 20 vs. Ohio State – Won 4-3
February 21 vs. Tennessee – Won 4-1
March 2 vs. Michigan – Lost 4-1
March 5 at Illinois – won 4-2
March 10 at UCLA
March 19 vs. USF
March 21 at SMU
March 25 vs. Baylor
March 27 at Tulane
April 1 vs. Texas Tech
April 3 at Baylor
April 9 vs. Texas
April 14 at Oklahoma State
April 16 at Oklahoma
April 22 vs. Big 12 Championship
May 19 NCAA Championship
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