No. 8 Baylor Sweeps No. 25 Arizona State in Men’s Tennis

(Photo: Ayden Vasquez/WCSN)

TEMPE — No. 25 Arizona State Sun Devils fell to No. 8 Baylor Bears 4–0 on Sunday afternoon at the Whiteman Tennis Center as the Bears claimed the doubles point and carried that momentum through singles to secure a decisive victory.

Arizona State (13–7, 0–2 Big 12) showed early signs of control but was unable to capitalize, particularly in doubles, where the Sun Devils held competitive positions before Baylor (14–7, 1–1 Big 12) surged late to take a 1–0 lead.

“I thought the doubles continue to get better, which is a positive for us,” ASU head coach Matt Hill said. “We were in a position to take it, but at this level, a couple of execution points make the difference.”

Baylor clinched the doubles point with wins on courts two and one. Luc Koenig and Connor Van Schalkwyk defeated Bor Artnak and Ofek Shimanov 6–3, while Alexandru Chirita and Zsombor Velcz edged Roi Ginat and Jelani Sarr in a tiebreak, 7–6. The third doubles match, featuring Shu Matsuoka and Niels Villard, went unfinished with both teams on serve.

The early deficit quickly grew in singles, where Baylor’s depth and consistency proved decisive. No. 14 Devin Badenhorst set the tone on court one, defeating No. 100 Bor Artnak 6–2, 6–1 to extend the Bears’ lead.

“Devin’s been playing really well, and these conditions suit him,” Hill said. “When he’s serving like that and dictating points, it puts a lot of pressure on you.”

Connor Van Schalkwyk followed with a 6–4, 6–2 victory over Shu Matsuoka on court three, maintaining Baylor’s momentum and putting the Sun Devils on the brink.

The clinching point came on court six, where Louis Bowden defeated Kristof Minarik 6–1, 6–2 to secure the 4–0 result for Baylor.

While the final scoreline indicated a sweep, several matches told a more competitive story. Ofek Shimanov pushed Zsombor Velcz into a third set on court two before the match was halted, and Jelani Sarr split sets with Alexandru Chirita on court four. Niels Villard also battled into extended play on court five before play was suspended.

“I wouldn’t say it was as decisive as the score shows,” Hill said. “There were multiple courts where we were right there, but against a top-10 team, you have to execute in those moments.”

Hill emphasized that execution — particularly in critical points — separated the two teams. Despite improved aggression in doubles compared to recent matches, Arizona State was unable to sustain that level throughout the contest.

“In doubles, we stayed aggressive longer than we have, which is a step forward,” Hill said. “But again, it comes down to a handful of points. You’ve got to finish those.”

In singles, Hill pointed to lapses in consistency and court positioning as key issues, noting that several players were either too passive or slow to adjust tactically.

“We played too passively at times and didn’t take control of points when we had the chance,” he said. “Against players like that, you can’t wait too long to make adjustments. By the time you do, it can be too late.”

The match also highlighted lineup challenges for the Sun Devils. With one regular starter unavailable due to injury, Arizona State adjusted its rotation, inserting Minarik into the lineup for his first match in over a month.

“Not playing for that long and then stepping in against a team like that is tough,” Hill said. “He’s experienced, but match rhythm matters, and that showed a bit today.”

Despite the loss, Arizona State demonstrated it could compete with one of the nation’s top programs, particularly in doubles and on several singles courts that remained tightly contested.

The defeat marks the Sun Devils’ second consecutive loss to a top-10 opponent, following a setback against TCU earlier in the week. For Hill, those matches serve as a measuring stick as the team progresses through Big 12 play.

“It gives us a lot of information,” Hill said. “If you want to win this conference, you have to beat teams like this. There are multiple top-25 teams in the Big 12, so every match is going to demand this level.”

Arizona State now turns its focus to the remainder of conference play where consistency and execution in key moments will be critical. With the Big 12 Tournament approaching in April, the Sun Devils remain in position to contend but will need to translate competitive stretches into wins.

“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 from start to finish.”

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