LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s tennis (9-5, 2-2 SEC) dropped its second straight conference road match on Friday, falling 6-1 at Georgia (8-6, 2-2 SEC).

Georgia took the first point of the match with doubles wins on courts two and three. Despite dropping the point, the Cats earned their first ranked doubles win of the season, as Stephenson and Loutit took down No. 23 Niels Ratiu and Freddy Blaydes. The duo recovered from an early break to win five of the last six games and earn the win at No. 1 doubles.

Georgia would respond with a win at No. 2, as the new pairing of Charlelie Cosnet and Jaden Weeks fell to Thomas Paulsell and Oscar Pinto Sansano by a tight 7-5 score line. The opening point would come down to No. 3, as Martin Breysach and Antoine Ghibaudo could not hold on to an early lead, falling in a tiebreak to Miguel Perez Pena and Gabriele Vulpitta, 7-6 (3).

The teams split opening sets, but it was the home team who was able to push across the finish line in singles play. No. 32 Perez Pena was able to knock off No. 53 in one of three ranked matchups, winning 6-4, 6-2 on the top court.

Stephenson dropped a 6-1, 6-4 contest on court four and Breysach fell 6-4, 7-6 (4) on court six to seal the win for the Dogs. Georgia was also able to flip a pair of courts, as Ratiu rebounded from a first set tiebreaker to defeat Matt Rankin 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-2. No. 105 Cosnet was able to rally to win the opening frame in a tiebreaker—shutting out Pinto Sansano in the decider—but was not able to carry the momentum and fell in three sets, 6-7 (0), 6-2, 6-2.

No. 121 Loutit was the lone Wildcat to score a point, taking down No. 27 Ryan Colby in a match tiebreak for his second win over a ranked opponent this season. The Kiwi claimed the 6-4, 5-7, [10-3] victory on court two to get the Cats on the board.

The Cats will stay on the road for their second match of the weekend, traveling to Knoxville to take on No. 19 Tennessee. The border battle is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 9.

For the latest on UK Men’s Tennis, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.

No. 27 Kentucky vs. No. 50 Georgia

Doubles Results

1. Stephenson/Loutit (UK) def. No. 23 Ratiu/Blaydes (UGA) 6-3
2. Paulsell/Pinto Sansano (UGA) def. Cosnet/Weekes (UK) 7-5
3. Perez Pena/Vulpitta (UGA) def. Breysach/Ghibaudo (UK) 7-6 (3)

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles Results

1. No. 32 Miguel Perez Pena (UGA) def. No. 53 Jaden Weekes (UK) 6-4, 6-2
2. No. 121 Jack Loutit (UK) def. No. 27 Ryan Colby (UGA) 6-4, 5-7, [10-3]
3. No. 26 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. No. 105 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) 6-7 (0), 6-2, 6-2
4. Oscar Pinto Sansano (UGA) def. Eli Stephenson (UK) 6-1, 6-4
5. Niels Ratiu (UGA)def. Matt Rankin (UK) 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-2
6. Gabriele Vulpitta (UGA) def. Martin Breysach (UK) 6-4, 7-6 (4)

Order of finish: 1, 4, 6, 5, 2, 3