Arizona Men’s Tennis made history on Saturday night in Ojai, California, as they shut out Stanford 4-0 to claim their first-ever Pac-12 Tournament Championship title. The victory not only marked a significant milestone for the Wildcats but also broke the dominance of traditional powerhouses USC and UCLA in the tournament.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Clancy Shields, Arizona (24-3, 7-1 Pac-12) entered the tournament seeking redemption after dropping the doubles point to Stanford (17-6, 7-1 Pac-12) in their regular-season matchup. The doubles competition was intense, with the Wildcats ultimately securing a crucial win when Gustaf Strom and Sasha Rozin defeated Stanford’s Aryan Chaudhary and Harsh Hemang Parikh.
In singles play, Arizona faced tough battles on multiple courts, with several matches going into decisive third sets. Notable performances included No. 71 Gustaf Strom’s dominant victory over Max Basing and No. 34 Jay Friend’s three-set win against Samir Banerjee.
The championship title was ultimately clinched by Nick Lagaev, who fought back from a set down to defeat Nico Godsick and secure the victory for the Wildcats. Lagaev reflected on the team’s journey, noting the remarkable transformation from being one of the worst teams in the Pac-12 to becoming champions.
With the Pac-12 Tournament Championship in hand, Arizona now looks ahead to the NCAA tournament selection show on April 29. The Wildcats will carry their momentum and newfound confidence into the national stage as they aim to continue their historic season.