(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)
Tempe– Rivalries are a tale as old as time. The Arizona State Sun Devils and the University of Arizona Wildcats clashed with their eyes on the prize of the Diablos Invitational Championship.
For their match on Saturday afternoon, the Wildcats were playing at a disadvantage against their rivals. The Wildcats’ superstar singles player Colton Smith, an ITA All-American, is on the ATP tour at Indian Wells and missed the match. This allowed the Wildcats to showcase their depth.
The match started at 3:45 p.m., and as the teams were beginning their warm-up at the Kiwanis Center, they began to realize that the weather was going to play a major factor in the match. Wind gusts made the players think twice about going for a big serve and increased the logistics of being precise with shot placement.
As the match started on the doubles courts, it was clear the Wildcats meant business. The business-like attitude started on the main court for the Wildcats as Eric Padgham and Jay Friend rocked ASU’s Bor Artnak and Matic Dimic with a (6-3) final.
Nicola Cigna and Mathis Bondaz for ASU didn’t fare much better as they also wound up on the losing end of their match on court three with a (6-2) loss to the Wildcats Filip Gustavson and Zoran Ludoski.
The Wildcats easily won the doubles point by making powerful shots, playing well in the elements, and keeping their eyes on the prize.
For the singles matches, the Sun Devils looked to find a turnaround. But, on this day, the No. 7-ranked Wildcats had no intentions of turning off the gas pedal.
On the fifth court, the Wildcats’ Alexander Rozin made quick work of ASU’s Roi Ginat with a (6-2, 6-1) final. Rozin always felt to be in control of the match, effectively moving side to side and having a nose for the net with drop-shots and overheads.
On the first court, ASU’s Bor Artnak, who has been on an eight-match win streak in singles competition, was halted by the Wildcats’ Jay Friend, the No.8-ranked singles player in the nation, by a (6-4, 6-1) final.
From that point on, if the Sun Devils were going to somehow pull off the upset, they would need to be picture-perfect in winning the remainder of the singles matches. Unfortunately for them, on the third court, Filip Gustafsson had a dagger for a racket, ending the match with authority with a (6-3, 6-4) victory over the Sun Devils’ Filip Gustafsson.
This crowned the University of Arizona Wildcats as the winner of the Diablos Invitational Tournament. This tournament was a statement to the rest of the NCAA about the legitimacy of the depth of the Wildcats. If they could dominate without their best player, once they get Smith back, they will be a true national championship contender.
For ASU, they will look to hit the reset button and will be back in action on March 14th as they head on the road to take on the UTR BNP Indian Wells tournament in Palm Springs, California.
