Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
No. 1 Oklahoma
No. 23 Texas Tech Stuns No. 1 Oklahoma
April 12, 2015 | Men's Tennis
Senior Francisco Zambon is mobbed by his teammates after clinching No. 23 Texas Tech's 4-3 win over No. 1 Oklahoma.
April 12, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas -- There are big wins and then there are bigger wins.
On Sunday afternoon at the McLeod Tennis Center there is not a bigger win in program history, than when No. 23 Texas Tech (18-6, 2-2 Big 12) upset No. 1 Oklahoma, 4-3.
The Sooners (21-2, 3-1 Big 12) entered the match winners of 11 straight with a 21-1 record on the season and had just defeated No. 2 Baylor in Waco, 4-3. It was the first Red Raider's first win over a team ranked No. 1 and the first win over a Top 5 program since Texas Tech dropped No. 4 Texas, 4-3, seven years ago today (Apr. 12, 2008).
But there was an energy at the McLeod all afternoon. A crowd of more than 700 filled the air with "Raider Power" chants and "Boomer Sooner" chants. With each point across six singles courts, the winner could be felt from the roar.
"What makes this so special is that it was Fran, our senior captain who closed out the match," said Red Raider head coach Tim Siegel. "Doubles, Alex, Jolan, Fran ... what can I say. I am really in shock that we beat the No. 1 team in the nation. The fact that it came down to Francisco Zambon was absolutely perfect."
With the score knotted, 3-3, the match would be decided at No. 5, where Zambon was taking on Oklahoma's Spencer Papa, who joined the team in January. Papa was the No. 1 junior player in the United States and the former No. 15 player in the world before joining Oklahoma.
After trailing 2-1, Zambon broke back and the two traded games until it was 4-4 in the first set. Zambon picked up another break and then served out the first set for a 6-4 win.
In the second set, Papa led 3-2, but Zambon fought back to get to 5-5, then 6-6. Service held in the tiebreaker until Zambon broke Papa to go ahead, 6-5 and then served for the win and the match.
"This was amazing," said Red Raider senior Francisco Zambon. "We have been preparing for this the entire year. We played like we have been playing. We didn't do anything different.
"I have had some very good memories and some very bad memories over the last four years, but today is something special for myself, the entire team, coach (Siegel) and (assistant coach) James (Wilson). It something I will always remember."
The day started with three evenly-matched doubles matches. Zambon and Connor Curry got the day started with a 6-3 win over Spencer Papa and Nick Papac at No. 3 Oklahoma answered with a battle at No. 2, where No. 52 Andrew Harris and Alex Ghilea had to use a tiebreaker to oust Jolan Cailleau and Alex Sendegeya, 7-6 (7-1).
The first point of the day would be decided at No. 1, where Texas Tech's No. 33 Felipe Soares and Hugo Dojas battled No. 8 Axel Alvarez Llamas and Dane Web. The match was on service until it was knotted at 6-6, forcing another tiebreaker. With Texas Tech leading, 7-6, Webb double faulted and Soares and Dojas pulled the upset for the point, 7-6 (8-6).
Alex Sendegeya quickly made it 2-0 after upsetting Oklahoma All-American and No. 30 Web, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3.
Oklahoma answered at No. 2, where No. 7 Harris defeated Dojas, 6-3, 6-1. The Sooners then tied the match, 2-2, when Flori Bragusi topped Connor Curry at No. 6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Sooners went ahead, 3-2, when No. 2 Alvarez Llamas outlasted No. 35 Soares, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 at No. 1.
But the Red Raiders answered at No. 4, where No. 114 Cailleau battled back to oust No. 70 Ghilea, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, and tie the match, 3-3, and putting Zambon on center stage.
"I do not know if there is any other place in college tennis where the crowd is like that. I am just so excited to play Baylor next week," added Zambon.
Texas Tech will close out the regular season on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the McLeod Tennis Center, when the Red Raiders host No. 2 Baylor (18-4, 2-1 Big 12).
#23 Texas Tech 4, #1 Oklahoma 3
Lubbock, Texas (McLeod Tennis Center)
Singles
1. #2 Axel Alvarez Llamas (OU) def. #35 Felipe Soares (TT) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
2. #7 Andrew Harris (OU) def. Hugo Dojas (TT) 6-3, 6-1
3. Alex Sendegeya (TT) def. #30 Dane Webb (OU) 6-2, 6-3
4. #114 Jolan Cailleau (TT) def. #70 Alex Ghilea (OU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Francisco Zambon (TT) def. Spencer Papa (OU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Florin Bragusi (OU) def. Connor Curry (TT) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
1. #33 Felipe Soares / Hugo Dojas (TT) def. #8 Axel Alvarez Llamas / Dane Webb (OU) 7-6 (8-6)
2. #52 Andrew Harris / Alex Ghilea (OU) def. Jolan Cailleau / Alex Sendegeya (TT) 7-6 (7-1)
3. Francisco Zambon / Connor Curry (TT) def. Spencer Papa / Nick Papac (OU) 6-3
Records: #1 Oklahoma (21-2, 3-1 Big 12); #23 Texas Tech (18-6, 2-2 Big 12).
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,2,6,1,4,5)
Note: This is Texas Tech's first-ever win over a team ranked No. 1.
T-2:35 A-719
Players Mentioned
