UC Irvine's men's tennis team is set to face UC Riverside in their Big West home opener on April 6. The Anteaters enter the match with a solid 9-6 record and are coming off a thrilling 4-3 victory over UC Davis, marking their fifth Big West opener win in six years. Meanwhile, UC Riverside struggles with a 2-17 overall record and is yet to secure a conference win, sitting at 0-2 in the Big West. The match will take place at Anteater Tennis Stadium in Irvine, California, at 2 p.m. (PDT).

By the Numbers
  • UCI has claimed five Big West openers in the last six years.
  • They are 25-6 in regular-season conference matches since 2021.
State of Play
  • UC Irvine has a perfect 8-0 record at Anteater Tennis Stadium this season.
  • Hiroki Sakagawa leads the Anteaters with a 9-3 singles record, playing at the top of the lineup.
What's Next

Following the match against UC Riverside, UC Irvine will host Cal Poly on April 10 for another Big West showdown. Their recent performances indicate strong momentum as they aim to maintain their home winning streak.

Bottom Line

UC Irvine's men's tennis team looks poised to continue their strong season, while UC Riverside seeks to break their losing streak. Key performances from players like Sakagawa could dictate the outcome of upcoming matches, significantly impacting both teams鈥� standings in conference play.