Final court decides another Lopes win

Sunday, January 19

Phoenix, Ariz.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

LMU

1/21/2025 9:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Sophomore Patoux becomes next hero for GCU

By: Braden Dohrmann

Grand Canyon needed a win on the final court for the second consecutive match Sunday to knock off LMU at home and go 2-0 on the regular season's opening weekend.

Lopes third-year head coach Derek Siddiqui led the men's team to a 2-0 start for the first time in his GCU career.

The match began with the doubles point going in the direction of LMU (0-3) after Court 2 came down to a tiebreaker with the point on the line. The Lopes' freshman pair of Andreas Loizas and Diordan Macabbabad battled back but fell 7-6.

Macabbabad made his collegiate debut Sunday, when he filled the opening in the doubles rotation due to junior David Wekesa's injury on Friday. Senior Paolo Rosati took the singles position at Court 6, with Loizas, graduate Matteo Lugari and senior Jonathan Da Silva moving up a court from their position in the season opener.

The Lopes had to get to work in singles, needing to win four of the six remaining points to take the match. Five of the six courts ended in straight sets, with sophomore Nikita Volonski dominating Court 1 yet again with a 6-0, 6-3 rout of LMU's Arthur Pantino. Loizas squeaked by the second set, taking Court 4 with a 6-1, 7-6 win. Rosati filled in nicely on Court 6, beating LMU's Sascha Nothdurft 6-4, 6-2.

The match once again came down to the final court for the Lopes, after beating New Mexico State 4-3 on Friday. Sunday's match was decided on Court 2 with GCU sophomore Brice Patoux.

Patoux handily took care of the first set 6-3 before dropping the next 6-2. The only court in a third set had all eyes on it after play elsewhere had completed. With both teams cheering on each point, Patoux proved tougher, and the Lopes grabbed the last point again. The transfer from Ole Miss had minimal drama, coming away with a 6-3 victory in the third set to give the Lopes another 4-3 victory.

Patoux earned his first singles victory on the season and was met by his celebrating teammates on the court after the final point.

GCU will remain home for a 10 a.m. Friday doubleheader against Western New Mexico at GCU Tennis Facility.