Lopes fall in close 4-3 match

Tuesday, March 23

Phoenix, Ariz.

11 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Idaho State

3/23/2021 5:18:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

GCU battles Bengals, weather in 4-hour match

By: Jerob Moon

The Grand Canyon men's tennis team dropped a midweek match to Idaho State, losing 4-3 at the GCU Tennis Facility on Tuesday.

The Lopes (1-12) held a 3-2 advantage before rain delayed the match for over an hour and turned momentum to the Bengals (4-8), who won the final two singles matches to win the dual match.

In doubles, GCU took the point with wins at Court Nos. 1 and 3. Valentin Lang and Jiri Novak kicked off the match with their fourth win in a row, defeating Idaho State's Patrik Trhac and Aleksander Petrovic 6-2. The point was clinched when the Lopes' Freddie Grant and Loic Van Zeggelaar won 6-3 at No. 3. At No. 2, Mariano Argote and Justin Cvitanovic trailed 4-3 when the GCU pair's match was left unfinished.

In singles, the Lopes and Bengals split the first sets with GCU controlling Court Nos. 1, 3 and 5. Lopes freshman Jonathan Da Silva won his match quickly at No. 5, 6-2, 6-1, to extend the Lopes lead. Idaho State countered with two wins at Nos. 2 and 4, but Lang at No. 1 brought momentum back on the GCU side with a 6-3, 7-6 win.

With the Lopes leading 3-2 and two matches still in play, rain hit the courts and forced an hour-long rain delay. Once play resumed, GCU had a chance to clinch the win at No. 3 with Cvitanovic leading the third set 5-3. The Bengals' Jaime Castillo-Lopez came out strong to win the final four games and tie the dual match at 3-3 with a 6-7, 6-2, 7-5 win.

The match came down to Grant at No. 6. The senior from England bounced back after losing a close 7-5 first set to win 6-4 in the second. Grant kept it close throughout the third set, tying it at 4-4 before Idaho State's Wikus Robbertse won the final two games for the Bengals' team victory.

The Lopes will be back in action this weekend, opening WAC play against Chicago State on Friday and New Mexico State on Monday at GCU Tennis Facility.