(Photo: Harrison Fuller/WCSN)
TEMPE — No. 25 Arizona State opened Big 12 Conference play with a 4–1 loss to No. 2 TCU men’s tennis on Friday night at the Whiteman Tennis Center, as the Sun Devils dropped the doubles point and could not recover in singles.
Arizona State (13–6, 0-1 Big 12) put itself in position early but failed to capitalize, a theme that proved decisive against one of the nation’s top programs. Despite holding leads on two of three doubles courts, the Sun Devils were unable to close, allowing TCU (13–4, 2-0 Big 12) to take a 1–0 advantage and seize early control of the match.
“I thought we were in great position in doubles,” ASU head coach Matt Hill said. “We were up on multiple courts and playing aggressive, taking it to them. But we let our foot off the gas just enough to let them back in it. When you let a team like that breathe, they’re going to run with it.”
TCU capitalized on that opening, earning 6–4 wins on courts two and one to secure the doubles point. The third match, which remained on serve late, went unfinished. The quick shift in momentum underscored the narrow margins at the top level of college tennis, where a handful of points can dictate the outcome of an entire dual match.
“They’re a good team, and doubles goes fast,” ASU sophomore Ofek Shimanov said. “If your energy drops even a little, you can lose it quickly.”
Trailing 1–0, Arizona State turned to singles needing a strong response. The Sun Devils showed early promise across multiple courts, but TCU’s depth ultimately proved too much.
Bor Artnak, ranked No. 100 nationally, provided the lone point for Arizona State on court one. The junior took control early against No. 25 Cosme Rolland De Ravel, using a mix of pace and placement to dictate points before his opponent retired in the opening set. While the abbreviated finish denied a full contest, Artnak’s performance reflected his recent form and gave ASU a brief spark.
“I felt good coming into the match,” Artnak said. “I was playing well the last couple weeks, so I just tried to stay focused on my game and keep the pressure on.”
Elsewhere, the Sun Devils battled but struggled to convert key moments into results. On court two, Shimanov faced No. 7 Duncan Chan in one of the marquee matchups of the night. After dropping the first set 6–4, Shimanov adjusted his positioning on returns and began dictating rallies more effectively, taking the second set 6–2.
He carried that momentum into the third set and held a 5–2 lead before the match was left unfinished once TCU clinched the team victory.
“I struggled at first to find my rhythm,” Shimanov said. “Then I made some adjustments with the coach, started returning better, and felt much more comfortable. I’m proud of how I fought back.”
However, TCU secured the overall win with straight-set victories on courts five, four and three. Albert Pedrico defeated Niels Villard 6–2, 6–1 on court five to give the Horned Frogs a 2–1 lead.
Oliver Bonding followed with a 7–5, 7–5 win over Jelani Sarr on court four, and No. 52 Cooper Woestendick clinched the match with a 7–6 (7–3), 7–5 victory against Shu Matsuoka on court three.
Hill pointed to critical lapses in execution during those matches, particularly in high-leverage moments.
“Against players of that caliber, you can’t give away free points,” Hill said. “There were stretches where we had opportunities and just didn’t execute. At this level, that’s the difference.”
Despite the result, Arizona State showed it could compete with one of the nation’s elite teams. The Sun Devils held leads in doubles, pushed multiple singles matches into tight situations and demonstrated resilience after falling behind early.
The match also marked Arizona State’s first home appearance in 59 days, returning to the Whiteman Tennis Center after an extended stretch on the road. The Sun Devils entered the night undefeated at home, making the loss a missed opportunity to build momentum at a critical point in the season.
“It’s tough, especially at home,” Hill said. “But there are positives we can take from it. The guys competed, and we showed we can play at that level. Now it’s about sustaining it for the entire match.”
With the regular season entering its final stretch, the focus now shifts to consistency and preparation for postseason play. Arizona State remains in position to contend in conference standings but will need stronger finishes in tight matches moving forward.
The Sun Devils continue Big 12 play Sunday against No. 8 Baylor, another top-tier opponent. The quick turnaround presents both a challenge and an opportunity to respond.
“They’re a really good team,” Shimanov said. “We’re going to recover, prepare, and come back stronger. We believe in our level.”
As the Big 12 Tournament approaches in April, Arizona State will look to refine its approach and build momentum. For Hill, the emphasis remains on execution, intensity and maintaining focus from the first point to the last.
“We’re close,” Hill said. “But close isn’t enough against teams like that. We’ve got to stay aggressive, stay locked in and trust our game the whole way through.”
