Auburn University’s men’s tennis team is set to begin its Southeastern Conference (SEC) season at home this Saturday. The Tigers will face No. 15 Florida at noon Central Time, followed by a match against The Citadel at 5 p.m., both taking place at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
Auburn head coach Bobby Reynolds commented on the team’s preparation for the weekend. “I’m happy that we had this past weekend off to give us a lot of time to go from the indoor season to the outdoor season,” Reynolds said. “I think this sets up well for us to have 12 good days outdoors leading into Florida. They’re a tough team and have had a great start to the spring, so we have to be ready. As I always say, doubles is going to be very important to us, so coming out with a lot of energy, getting that doubles point and competing from No. 1 to No. 6 will be key. They are strong from top to bottom.”
The Tigers last competed on February 6, when they achieved a 5-2 upset victory over Clemson. This win helped Auburn move up in national rankings, reaching No. 30 in the latest ITA rankings and earning a spot within the top 25 of the UTR College Team Rankings.
In doubles play, Billy and Freddy Blaydes lead Auburn with a 4-1 record in dual matches this spring and recently secured a decisive win against Clemson’s top pair. On the singles side, Nicholas Heng has posted notable results at the No. 3 position with five wins in six dual matches and an overall season record of nine wins and five losses.
Florida enters SEC play with a 6-3 overall record after qualifying for the ITA National Team Indoor Championship by defeating higher-ranked opponents during ITA Kickoff Weekend. At ITA Indoors, Florida lost to Mississippi State but earned victories over Clemson and SMU. Historically, Florida holds an advantage over Auburn in their series history.
The Citadel comes into Saturday’s match without any wins this season or in conference play. Auburn has won all previous meetings between the two programs.
Fans attending Saturday’s matches can receive complimentary Publix desserts while supplies last, and live coverage will be available through AuburnTigers.com.
