Ohio State
Auburn
Buckeyes Beat Auburn 4-1, Advance to Super Regionals
5/4/2025 4:50:00 PM | Men's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State dropped the doubles point but rallied to win four singles matches and beat Auburn 4-1 on Sunday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Auer Tennis Complex.
The Buckeyes are now 28-3 on the year advance to the round of 16 for the 19th consecutive season.
The match started outdoors and after the doubles point was completed, rain moved in and forced a delay. After 45 minutes, the match was moved indoors. The change of scenery helped the Buckeyes as they won all six opening sets in singles to steal back the momentum.
This was just the fifth all-time meeting between Ohio State and Auburn and the first in the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes are now 3-2 against the Tigers, which also includes a win in Columbus in 2015.
The Buckeyes honored its two seniors following the match. Chris Li is in his first season with the program and has had a great year in the middle of the lineup. Reece Yakubov is in his fourth season and has been part of four Big Ten championship teams as well as an ITA Indoor Team national title.
Doubles
- Auburn went up a break on courts one and three at the start of doubles. The Tigers held the edge throughout on court win, winning that match 6-1.
- On court three, the Buckeyes got back on serve but then the Tigers broke to go up 4-3 and would hold from there for a 6-4 victory.
- Nikita Filin and Brandon Carpico on court two were on serve at 5-4 when the point was clinched.
Singles
- The Buckeyes started by winning all six of the opening sets.
- Preston Stearns, who was 3-0 last weekend in the Big Ten Tournament, continued his solid play as he beat Joey Phillips 6-4, 6-2 on court six to get the Buckeyes on the board.
- Bryce Nakashima then dispatched of Nicholas Heng 6-4, 6-1 on court five and the Buckeyes quickly had the lead 2-1.
- The next two points looked like they would come quickly but Auburn rallied to force a third set on courts three and four.
- The Buckeyes went ahead 3-1 on a 7-6(2), 7-5 win from Alexander Bernard over No. 68 Alex Frusina on court two.
- The clinching point was provided by Aidan Kim who took down Will Nolan on court one 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Up Next
Ohio State will host the super regional round next weekend and will face No. 12 Mississippi State at noon on Saturday. This will be the second consecutive year in which the teams met in the super regional round in Columbus. The Buckeyes won 4-1 last year to advance to the quarterfinals.
#6 Ohio State 4, Auburn 1
Singles
1. #11 Aidan Kim (OSU) def. Will Nolan (AUB) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
2. #61 Alexander Bernard (OSU) def. #68 Alex Frusina (AUB) 7-6 (7-2), 7-5
3. #120 Jack Anthrop (OSU) vs. Billy Blaydes (AUB) 6-3, 6-7 (7-2), 1-2, unfinished
4. Chris Li (OSU) vs. Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) 6-0, 6-7 (4-7), 4-1, unfinished
5. #97 Bryce Nakashima (OSU) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB) 6-4, 6-1
6. Preston Stearns (OSU) def. Joey Phillips (AUB) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. #78 Will Nolan/Alex Frusina (AUB) def. Will Jansen/Aidan Kim (OSU) 6-1
2. Nikita Filin/Brandon Carpico (OSU) vs. Joey Phillips/Billy Blaydes (AUB) 5-4, unfinished
3. Hamza Nasridinov/Jake Kennedy (AUB) def. Jack Anthrop/Bryce Nakashima (OSU) 6-4
Match Notes:
Auburn 20-11
Ohio State 28-3; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,5,2,1)
NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament -- Second Round
Official: Julio Colon T-3:31 A-313
#GoBucks
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Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
6,5,2,1
