TheMW.com Video Link: http://www.themw.com/video/551c45d9e4b0a212597f03b3
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of New Mexico senior Samir Iftikhar has been named the Mountain West Men’s Tennis Player of the Week, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.
This is the first MW weekly honor for Iftikhar and is also the first MW Player of the Week honor for the team this season.
Iftikhar, who is currently ranked No. 61 nationally in singles, helped lead the No. 42 Lobos to two conference victories over the weekend as UNM tallied wins against Fresno State and Nevada. In the Lobos’ match up against the Bulldogs, Iftikhar and teammate Mitchell McDaniels clinched the doubles point for UNM after defeating Youssef Hassan and Euan McIntosh in an intense tiebreaker; 7-6 (11). Following doubles action, Iftikhar went on to clinch the 4-2 win for UNM with his 7-5, 7-5 victory over Sai Kartik Nakireddi in the No. 1 singles spot.
Iftikhar and McDaniels also tallied an impressive doubles victory when the Lobos faced off against the Wolf Pack. The UNM duo swiftly defeated Billy Baumgardner and Robert Margitfalvi, 6-2, helping the Lobos claim the doubles point once again. UNM went on to claim the road match 4-2. Iftikhar led Moez Chargui 6-3, 4-2 in the No. 1 position before the match was claimed.
Iftikhar is currently 3-3 in singles, 3-1 in doubles this season. The Lobo senior had to sit out for a large portion of UNM’s non-conference season because he broke his wrist in the Lobos’ opening weekend. However Iftikhar’s performance in the last few weeks has proved that he is playing just as strong as ever.
The Lobos are currently 14-8 on the season. They will hit the road again this weekend for a pair of MW matches against Utah State and Boise State.
Twitter: @UNMMenTennis | Facebook: Facebook.com/UNM.Men.Tennis