No.8 Duke University men’s tennis team fell to Northwestern 4-3, at the Combe Tennis Center. Now, Duke will play next Friday at home hosting Yale for one at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center. Two days later, the Blue Devils will host Kentucky.
Final form Evanston pic.twitter.com/yuRD51idvy
— Duke Men’s Tennis (@DukeMTEN) February 4, 2024
Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang began doubles play with a 6-2 victory over Presley Thieneman and Greyson Casey on court two. Chad Miller and Saiprakash Goli then defeated Connor Krug and Faris Khan on court three, 6-4, to make the doubles score 1-1. With the doubles point coming down to first court, unfortunately Felix Nordby and Gleb Blekher outlasted Garrett Johns and Pedro Rodenas, 6-4, to secure the aggregate point.
Northwestern extended its lead to 3-0 early singles after victories on courts two and four, respectively. Thieneman beat Zhang 6-2, 6-2, before Nordby beat Andrew Dale 6-3, 6-2. The Blue Devils would then fight all the way to close the game at 3-3.
Jake Krug began the rally with a three-set victory over Casey on court five. The Lakewood, Ranch, Fla., native earned a 6-4 victory in the first set but lost in the second, 6-3. Fortunately, he rebounded to win 6-3 in the final frame and record his sixth double win this season. Johns then won 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 over Blekher on the upper court to pull Duke within one at 3-2.
Debutant Alexander Visser then tied the match following his three-set win over Miller on court six. He gained a 6-4 in the first frame but fell in the tie-break during the second 7-6 (4). The Westport, Conn., native then rallied to win 6-2 in the final set for his second career doubles victory. With the final decision on court three, Goli outlasted Connor Krug, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (3) to clinch the victory for the Wildcats.
Men’s singles
1. Garrett Johns (DU) def. Gleb Blekher (NU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. Presley Thieneman (NU) def. Andrew Zhang (DU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Saiprakash Goli (NU) def. Connor Krug (DU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Felix Nordby (NU) def. Andrew Dale (DU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Jake Krug (DU) def. Greyson Casey (NU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
6. Alexander Visser (DU) def. Chad Miller (NU) 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2
Men’s doubles
1. Felix Nordby/Gleb Blekher (NU) def. Garrett Johns/Pedro Rodenas (DU) 6-4
2. #14 Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (DU) def. Presley Thieneman/Greyson Casey (NU) 6-2
3. Chad Miller/Saiprakash Goli (NU) def. Connor Krug/Faris Khan (DU) 6-4
You must be logged in to post a comment Login