The UC Irvine men's tennis team clinched a 4-3 victory over UC Davis in their Big West opener after a weather delay. Hiroki Sakagawa secured the win by overcoming a challenging three-set match at No. 1 singles, bringing the Anteaters to a record of 9-6 overall and 1-0 in conference play. This win marked the first conference loss for UC Davis, who fell to 9-9 overall. UCI showed resilience by coming back from a 3-2 deficit to take the match, with key contributions from Greg Gamal and Ruining Huang. The Anteaters are set to face UC Riverside next Monday.

By the Numbers
  • UCI improved to 9-6 overall and 1-0 in Big West play.
  • Sakagawa has a team-best singles record of 9-3 this season.
State of Play
  • UCI overcame a 3-2 deficit after a rain delay to secure the win.
  • Sakagawa won his match 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 after initially trailing in the second set.
What's Next

UC Irvine will continue its Big West competition against UC Riverside on April 6, aiming to build on the momentum from this victory.

Bottom Line

The Anteaters showcased their tenacity and depth in the roster, overcoming adversity to secure an important early conference win, setting a positive tone for the rest of the season.