The No.6 Wake Forest men’s tennis team emerged victorious over the No.11 University of Michigan with a score of 4-1 in the opening round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. This thrilling match took place yesterday at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center. The Demon Deacons are now set to face the University of Arizona in the upcoming hours. The Wildcats secured their spot in the quarter-finals after defeating the No.3 Texas Longhorns with a score of 4-2.
On Friday, the Deacs took an early lead of 1-0 after dominating the doubles matches. Building on this advantage, the Demon Deacons carried their momentum into the singles matches, securing three consecutive victories.
Freshman Luca Pow showcased his talent on court six, improving his singles record to an impressive 8-2 since the start of his collegiate career. The win against the Wolverines marked Wake Forest’s fourth triumph over a top-20 opponent this season. Furthermore, it was the second time in the past three years that the Demon Deacons reached the quarter-finals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship.
Head coach Tony Bresky expressed his excitement about the Friday night match, particularly in the vibrant city of New York, with the presence of their loyal alumni. He acknowledged the strength of the Michigan team, recognizing their consistent success over the years. Coach Bresky and the team are thrilled with their victory and eagerly look forward to the next match.
Following the win, Coach Tony Bresky shared his analysis, stating, “It’s always exhilarating to witness a Friday night game, especially in the heart of New York City, surrounded by our dedicated alumni. Michigan has proven to be a formidable opponent, maintaining a high level of performance throughout the years. We are elated to emerge victorious. As the matches progressed, I believe we displayed exceptional skill in certain areas. We eagerly anticipate our next night game and hope for another remarkable turnout. Our crowd was phenomenal tonight. We are excited to continue our journey.”
Securing their spot in the quarter-finals, the Demon Deacons are one step closer to claiming the championship title.
Wake Forest defeats Michigan to advance to the quarterfinals of the ITA Division I Men’s National Team Indoor Championship!#WeAreCollegeTennis | #ITAIndoors pic.twitter.com/i6sWz42yYY
Men’s singles:
1. #23 Filippo Moroni (WF) vs. #17 Gavin Young (MICH) 7-6 (7-2), 2-1, unfinished
2. #49 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WF) defeats #48 Jacob Bickersteth (MICH) 6-2, 7-6 (11-9)
3. #125 Patorn Hanchaikul (MICH) defeats Matthew Thomson (WF) 6-3, 6-3
4. Luciano Tacchi (WF) defeats Björn Swenson (MICH) 6-4, 6-4
5. Holden Koons (WF) vs. Will Cooksey (MICH) 3-6, 3-5, unfinished
6. Luca Pow (WF) defeats Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) 6-4, 6-3
Men’s doubles:
1. #7 Holden Koons/DK Suresh Ekambaram (WF) v Jacob Bickersteth/Gavin Young (MICH) 6-6, unfinished
2. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WF) defeats Will Cooksey/Patorn Hanchaikul (MICH) 6-2
3. Luca Pow/Luciano Tacchi (WF) defeats Alex Cairo/Nicholas Steiglehner (MICH) 7-6 (9-7)
Arizona qualifies for the quarterfinals of the ITA National Indoor Championship with a 4-2 victory over the Texas Longhorns in their first-ever appearance. The Wildcats take an early 1-0 lead with wins from Herman Hoeyeraal and Eric Padgham. Gustaf Strom and Alexander Rozin secure the doubles point with a 6-3 victory.
No.3 goes down😼
The Wildcats advance to the next round of the ITA National Indoor Championship by defeating the No.3 ranked Longhorns in a 4-2 victory👏#BearDown x #ArizonaTennis x #ITAIndoor pic.twitter.com/9nNQBDG0N2
Colton Smith (No. 5), Jay Friend (No. 43), Gustaf Strom (No. 47), Nick Lagaev, and Herman Hoeyeraal (No. 116) represent Arizona in the singles lineup. Captain Lagaev secures a 6-3, 6-4 victory against No. 53 Pierre-Yves Bailly, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 2-0. Smith and Friend fall to No. 1 Eliot Spizzirri and No. 2 Micah Braswell, tying the score at 2-2.
No.116 Herman Hoeyeraal clinches the victory for Arizona with a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) win 👏#BearDown x #ArizonaTennis pic.twitter.com/6lONt8k4ne
Strom finishes fourth, reclaiming Arizona’s lead with a dominant 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory. Hoeyeraal secures the win in a tie-break against Cleeve Harper, coming back in the second set with a score of 6-4 and ultimately winning 7-6 (5) in the tie.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org