Sakagawa Named Big West Player of the Week
February 11, 2026 | Men's Tennis
IRVINE, Calif. β Graduate student Hiroki Sakagawa has been named the Big West Men's Tennis Player of the Week the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.
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Sakagawa earned his first career weekly award after getting UC Irvine on the board against No. 11 San Diego with his first ranked singles win of the season.
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Playing at the top of the lineup, the Chiba, Japan, native came back from a one-set deficit to defeat No. 103 Manvydas Balciunas in a 10-point tiebreak. After dropping the opener, 6-4, Sakagawa took control with a 6-3 victory in the second frame. He carried the momentum into the third where he upended Balciunas, 10-6.
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Sakagawa, who missed last year with an injury, has started the 2026 campaign with a 2-1 record at No. 1 singles.
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The Anteaters are back in Irvine next weekend as they are set to host Saint Mary's (Feb. 21) and San Diego State (Feb. 22).
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Sakagawa earned his first career weekly award after getting UC Irvine on the board against No. 11 San Diego with his first ranked singles win of the season.
Β
Playing at the top of the lineup, the Chiba, Japan, native came back from a one-set deficit to defeat No. 103 Manvydas Balciunas in a 10-point tiebreak. After dropping the opener, 6-4, Sakagawa took control with a 6-3 victory in the second frame. He carried the momentum into the third where he upended Balciunas, 10-6.
Β
Sakagawa, who missed last year with an injury, has started the 2026 campaign with a 2-1 record at No. 1 singles.
Β
The Anteaters are back in Irvine next weekend as they are set to host Saint Mary's (Feb. 21) and San Diego State (Feb. 22).
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