Sakagawa Named Big West Player of the Week
February 11, 2026 | Men's Tennis
IRVINE, Calif. – Graduate student Hiroki Sakagawa has been named the Big West Men's Tennis Player of the Week the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.
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.
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.
Sakagawa, who missed last year with an injury, has started the 2026 campaign with a 2-1 record at No. 1 singles.
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).
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.
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.
Sakagawa, who missed last year with an injury, has started the 2026 campaign with a 2-1 record at No. 1 singles.
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).
Players Mentioned
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