TUCSON - California opened Pac-12 Conference play 1-0 as J.T. Nishimura clinched No. 49 California's 4-1 win at Arizona on Sunday at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. The Golden Bear defeated Trent Botha, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch and earlier teamed with fellow senior Billy Griffith to clinch the doubles point.

The Bears improved to 5-4 overall. The Wildcats now have a 12-7 (0-2 Pac-12) record.

The 32nd-ranked pair of Nishimura and Griffith beat Igor Karpovets and Carlos Hassey, 6-3, at court-one doubles to give Cal a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Dominic Barretto and freshman Can Kaya also defeated Botha and Filip Malbasic, 6-2, on court three.
 
Cal lost four of six first sets in singles but rebounded to knock off the Wildcats.
 
Freshman Ben Draper gave Cal a 2-0 lead when he bested Hassey, 6-3, 7-6, at court-six singles, though the Wildcats got one back when Alejandro Reguant beat freshman Jacob Brumm, 6-3, 6-1. Griffith, ranked 52nd, then lifted Cal to a 3-1 lead when he beat Karpovets, 6-4, 64-, on court one, before his doubles partner ended the match.
 
"We executed well in doubles today, but Arizona came out strong in the singles," said Peter Wright, Cal's Director of Men's Tennis. "I have to give credit to our seniors, Billy Griffith and J.T. Nishimura, as they played some gutsy singles in addition to a solid doubles performance. I liked seeing three of our guys come back to win their second sets after losing the first set. This is the type of match that helps our confidence as we approach the second half of the season."
 
Cal next plays in the BNP Paribas Collegiate Tennis Open presented by Oracle from Friday through Sunday in Indian Wells, California.
 
No. 49 California (5-4, 1-0 Pac-12) defeated Arizona (12-7, 0-2 Pac-12), 4-1
March 11, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz.
LaNelle Robson Tennis Center
 
Doubles
1. No. 32 Billy Griffith/J.T. Nishimura (Cal) def. Igor Karpovets/Carlos Hassey (Arizona), 6-3
2. Ben Draper/Jack Molloy (Cal) vs. Alejandro Reguant/Jonas Maier (Arizona), 5-3 Unfinished
3. Dominic Barretto/Can Kaya (Cal) def. Trent Botha/Filip Malbasic (Arizona), 6-2
 
Cal won the doubles point
 
*Clinched the doubles point
Order of Finish: 3, 1
 
Singles
1. No. 52 Billy Griffith (Cal) def. Igor Karpovets (Arizona), 6-4, 6-4
2. J.T. Nishimura (Cal) def. Trent Botha (Arizona), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1^
3. Jack Molloy (Cal) vs. Jonas Maier (Arizona), 4-6, 6-3, 4-0 Unfinished
4. Paul Barretto (Cal) vs. Filip Malbasic (Arizona), 4-6, 6-4 Unfinished
5. Alejandro Reguant (Arizona) def. Jacob Brumm (Cal), 6-3, 6-1
6. Ben Draper (Cal) def. Carlos Hassey (Arizona), 6-3, 7-6
 
^Clinched the overall match
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 1, 2^