DURHAM – No. 20 Duke males’s tennis posted a hard-fought 5-2 victory over Memphis on Friday night time in its residence opener at Sheffield Indoor Tennis Heart.
With the win, the Blue Devils secured their fifth-straight home-opening victory.
How It Occurred
- Senior Garrett Johns and rookie Pedro Rodenas started doubles motion claiming a 6-2 win over Jeremy Taylor and Harry Rock on courtroom two.
- The Tigers responded with a win on courtroom three to even issues up following Pau Fanlo and Pablo Alemany’s 7-5 victory over juniors Faris Khan and Niroop Vallabhaneni.
- With the doubles level coming all the way down to the end result on courtroom one, the No. 49-ranked doubles pair of seniors Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang recorded a 7-5 win over David Stevenson and Oscar Slicing at hand the Blue Devils an early 1-0 edge within the total match.
- Memphis recorded back-to-back victories to kick off singles play to leap in entrance 2-1.
- Taylor defeated Vallabhaneni on courtroom 5 6-2, 6-1 to knot the rating at 1-1. No. 39 Alemany then bested No. 4 Johns 6-1, 6-3 on courtroom one at hand the guests a slight edge within the match.
- Luckily, the Blue Devils secured three consecutive wins over the following three matches to safe the win and earn their second victory on the yr.
- Connor Krug claimed a 6-3, 6-4 win on courtroom 4 over Slicing, earlier than his twin brother Jake Krug adopted go well with with a 6-3, 6-4 victory towards Fanlo on courtroom six.
- No. 84 Rodenas then posted the match-clinching level after he bested Conor Gannon 7-5, 6-4 on courtroom three.
- The match on courtroom two was a back-and-forth affair between No. 101 Zhang and No. 114 Stevenson. The guests earned a 7-6 (3) tiebreak win within the opening set however Zhang battled again to register a 6-4 victory within the second body. With the general match already secured, Zhang recorded a 10-6 tremendous tiebreak win to offer Duke its fifth and last level of the night time.
Notes
- Duke shifts to 13-2 in residence openers underneath the course of head coach Ramsey Smith.
- The Blue Devils recorded their fourth consecutive victory at residence and are 12-3 of their final 15 residence matches.
- Connor Krug, Jake Krug and Rodenas have all began the twin singles season undefeated.
Quotes
“It was a terrific crew win. Memphis is actually robust. We performed them within the NCAA Match final yr and so they have all these gamers plus an extra participant. I believe they’re significantly robust in doubles and in indoors. They’ve a whole lot of large guys that serve effectively and play aggressive. Total, I am simply actually happy we have been in a position to get a win.” – Duke head coach Ramsey Smith on his ideas from the match
“I assumed the seniors stepped up in doubles after which in singles the younger weapons stepped up. Pedro (Rodenas) regarded very comfy. I did not know precisely how he would really feel. Twin matches are very completely different and there are a whole lot of issues happening and he stayed very centered and mentally he was a machine tonight so more than happy and proud of him. It was the primary time that the Krugs have performed in the identical twin match subsequent to one another. They really had the very same rating. I assumed they have been wonderful and particularly Jake, as a result of he hasn’t been in that state of affairs very a lot. Tonight was by far the perfect twin match that he is performed. Simply his dedication to taking part in aggressive and going after the ball and actually deal with his physique language and composure, it was simply very thrilling to see him at that stage. I am actually comfortable for him as a result of he is put a whole lot of work to get himself in that place and to see him come by like that in an necessary match for us was large.” – Duke head coach Ramsey Smith on completely different gamers stepping up at completely different occasions to guide the crew
“It was nice. The ambiance was nice. My teammates have been pushing me, and I attempted to push them too. It was unbelievable and a tremendous expertise.” – Duke freshman Pedro Rodenas on his first residence match and securing the victory
Subsequent Match
Duke welcomes No. 16 Harvard and North Carolina Central on Sunday for a doubleheader on Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m., respectively, in Sheffield Indoor Tennis Heart.
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Outcomes
Doubles (2,3,1*)
1. #49 Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (DU) def. David Stevenson/Oscar Slicing (MEM-M) 7-5
2. Garrett Johns/Pedro Rodenas (DU) def. Jeremy Taylor/Harry Rock (MEM-M) 6-2
3. Pau Fanlo/Pablo Alemany (MEM-M) def. Faris Khan/Niroop Vallabhaneni (DU) 7-5
Singles (5,1,4,6,3*,2)
1. #39 Pablo Alemany (MEM-M) def. #4 Garrett Johns (DU) 6-1, 6-3
2. #101 Andrew Zhang (DU) def. #114 David Stevenson (MEM-M) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 10-6
3. #84 Pedro Rodenas (DU) def. Conor Gannon (MEM-M) 7-5, 6-4
4. Connor Krug (DU) def. Oscar Slicing (MEM-M) 6-3, 6-4
5. Jeremy Taylor (MEM-M) def. Niroop Vallabhaneni (DU) 6-2, 6-1
6. Jake Krug (DU) def. Pau Fanlo (MEM-M) 6-3, 6-4
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