MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Santiago Navarro took a three-set win at No. 3 singles to clinch Rice’s 4-2 win against Memphis Sunday morning in the championship final of the American Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis Championship at the Leftwich Tennis Center.
 
The win gives Rice (16-9) an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship as the Owls won their first American title.
 
Kabeer Kapasi, who won all three of his singles matches in the conference tournament, was chosen as the event’s Most Outstanding Player. Kapasi was a winner in both singles and doubles in Sunday’s championship final.
 
Kapasi paired with Arthus de la Bassetierre for a 7-6 (4) win at No. 2 doubles to give Rice a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
 
But Memphis (16-12) took the first two singles matches to finish as Luis Sandoval Carvalho and Moritz Kudernatsch wrapped up straight-set victories simultaneously to put the Tigers ahead 2-1.
 
Rice answered with back-to-back wins as Kapasi took a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 6, followed moments later by Petro Kuzmenok’s 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 victory at No. 3 to make it 3-2.
 
A pivotal point in the match came at No. 1 singles, as de la Bassetierre fought off four match points in the second set to win a tiebreaker and extend his match into the third set. 
 
With Memphis needing wins on the No. 1 and No. 3 courts to get the win, Navarro was able to close out the match for Rice as he smashed a forehand winner down the line on a service return.
 
Navarro, Kapasi and Kuzmenok all won in singles and doubles for the Owls, who will learn their NCAA Championship opponent April 28.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2025 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 17-20 | Leftwich Tennis Center | Memphis, Tennessee
 

First Round | Thursday, April 17
Match 1: No. 7 Charlotte 4, No. 10 Temple 1
Match 2: No. 6 UTSA 4, No. 11 Tulane 3
Match 3: No. 8 Wichita State 4, No. 9 UAB 0
Quarterfinals | Friday, April 18
Match 4: No. 2 Memphis 4, No. 7 Charlotte 2
Match 5: No. 3 Florida Atlantic 4, No. 6 UTSA 2
Match 6: No. 1 South Florida 4, No. 8 Wichita State 1
Match 7: No. 5 Rice 4, No. 4 Tulsa 1
Semifinals | Saturday, April 19
Match 8: No. 2 Memphis 4, No. 3 Florida Atlantic 2
Match 9: No. 5 Rice 4, No. 1 South Florida 3
Final | Sunday, April 20 | ESPN+
No. 5 Rice 4, No. 2 Memphis 2

 
Most Outstanding Player
Kabeer Kapasi, Rice