EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern men's tennis notched a top-ten takedown on Sunday at Combe Tennis Center, downing No. 8 Duke in the first half of a doubleheader sweep at home. Following their 4-3 victory over the Blue Devils, the 'Cats finished off UIC, 4-1, in the nightcap.
Duke started off the day with a 6-2 win at #2 doubles, but the 'Cats took the remaining two courts and the doubles point to put them out to an early 1-0 lead. Chad Miller and Saiprakash Goli picked up their first win as a pair from the number three position before Felix Nordby and Gleb Blekher closed the deal with a 6-4 victory at #1.
In the singles portion of the match, Presley Thieneman increased the 'Cats' lead with a win in straight sets at #2, picking up a 6-2, 6-2 win to improve to 3-3 on the season individually. Nordby then picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win at #4 singles to make it a 3-0 lead for Northwestern.
All three of the next decisions went in the Blue Devils' favor, knotting the score up a three all. The match came down to the number three position, where Goli faced off with Duke's Connor Krug. The first set went to tiebreak, where Krug edged out a 7-6 (7-4) victory, but Goli bounced back with a 6-2 win in set two. Once set three also reached tiebreak, Goli came through with a 7-6 (7-3) win to clinch the 'Cats' 4-3 victory.
In the second half of the day's action, the 'Cats once again opened with a pair of victories to clinch the doubles point. Miller and Goli picked up another win at #3 doubles, then Thieneman and Greyson Casey won 3-2 at #2 to lock it in.
Thieneman continued his success during singles play, collecting a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win. Blekher also won in decisive fashion, blanking his opponent in the first set en route to a 6-0, 6-2 win from the top position. Miller accounted for the final Northwestern point with his fourth win of the day, clinching a doubleheader sweep for the 'Cats with a 6-4, 6-3 win.
The Wildcats will continue their homestand next Friday at Combe, when they host the Alabama Crimson Tide. First serve in that match is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Duke started off the day with a 6-2 win at #2 doubles, but the 'Cats took the remaining two courts and the doubles point to put them out to an early 1-0 lead. Chad Miller and Saiprakash Goli picked up their first win as a pair from the number three position before Felix Nordby and Gleb Blekher closed the deal with a 6-4 victory at #1.
In the singles portion of the match, Presley Thieneman increased the 'Cats' lead with a win in straight sets at #2, picking up a 6-2, 6-2 win to improve to 3-3 on the season individually. Nordby then picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win at #4 singles to make it a 3-0 lead for Northwestern.
All three of the next decisions went in the Blue Devils' favor, knotting the score up a three all. The match came down to the number three position, where Goli faced off with Duke's Connor Krug. The first set went to tiebreak, where Krug edged out a 7-6 (7-4) victory, but Goli bounced back with a 6-2 win in set two. Once set three also reached tiebreak, Goli came through with a 7-6 (7-3) win to clinch the 'Cats' 4-3 victory.
In the second half of the day's action, the 'Cats once again opened with a pair of victories to clinch the doubles point. Miller and Goli picked up another win at #3 doubles, then Thieneman and Greyson Casey won 3-2 at #2 to lock it in.
Thieneman continued his success during singles play, collecting a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win. Blekher also won in decisive fashion, blanking his opponent in the first set en route to a 6-0, 6-2 win from the top position. Miller accounted for the final Northwestern point with his fourth win of the day, clinching a doubleheader sweep for the 'Cats with a 6-4, 6-3 win.
The Wildcats will continue their homestand next Friday at Combe, when they host the Alabama Crimson Tide. First serve in that match is scheduled for 6 p.m.