No.8 Duke University men’s tennis team suffered a defeat against Northwestern, losing 4-3 at the Combe Tennis Center. In their next match, Duke will be playing at home against Yale on Friday, which will take place at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center. Two days later, the Blue Devils will have the opportunity to host Kentucky.
The doubles play began with a 6-2 victory for Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang over Presley Thieneman and Greyson Casey on court two. On court three, Chad Miller and Saiprakash Goli secured a win of 6-4 against Connor Krug and Faris Khan, resulting in a tied doubles score of 1-1. Unfortunately, the doubles point came down to the first court, where Felix Nordby and Gleb Blekher outlasted Garrett Johns and Pedro Rodenas with a score of 6-4, securing the aggregate point.
Northwestern further extended their lead to 3-0 in the early singles matches, with victories on courts two and four. Thieneman defeated Zhang with a score of 6-2, 6-2, while Nordby beat Andrew Dale with a score of 6-3, 6-2. However, the Blue Devils fought back and managed to close the gap to 3-3.
Jake Krug initiated the rally with a three-set victory over Casey on court five. After winning the first set 6-4, he lost in the second set with a score of 6-3. Fortunately, he made a comeback in the final frame, winning 6-3 and securing his sixth double win of the season. Johns then achieved a victory of 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 over Blekher on the upper court, bringing Duke within one point at 3-2.
Debutant Alexander Visser then tied the match with a three-set win over Miller on court six. He won the first set 6-4 but faced defeat in the tie-break during the second set, which ended with a score of 7-6 (4). However, he rallied and won the final set 6-2, earning his second career doubles victory. The final decision rested on court three, where Goli outlasted Connor Krug with a score of 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (3), ultimately securing the victory for the Wildcats.
Men’s singles:
1. Garrett Johns (DU) defeated Gleb Blekher (NU) with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. Presley Thieneman (NU) defeated Andrew Zhang (DU) with a score of 6-2, 6-2
3. Saiprakash Goli (NU) defeated Connor Krug (DU) with a score of 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Felix Nordby (NU) defeated Andrew Dale (DU) with a score of 6-3, 6-2
5. Jake Krug (DU) defeated Greyson Casey (NU) with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
6. Alexander Visser (DU) defeated Chad Miller (NU) with a score of 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2
Men’s doubles:
1. Felix Nordby/Gleb Blekher (NU) defeated Garrett Johns/Pedro Rodenas (DU) with a score of 6-4
2. #14 Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (DU) defeated Presley Thieneman/Greyson Casey (NU) with a score of 6-2
3. Chad Miller/Saiprakash Goli (NU) defeated Connor Krug/Faris Khan (DU) with a score of 6-4