DURHAM – In the first of two dual matches on Sunday for No. 20 Duke men’s tennis, the Blue Devils dropped a 4-3 decision to No. 16-ranked Harvard in Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
Duke suffered its first dual loss of the season and shifts to 2-1, while the Crimson improve to 2-0 after besting No. 21 N.C. State on Friday night, 4-3, in their season opener.
How It Happened
- Sunday afternoon’s double point was a battle from the start. The Crimson claimed a 6-1 victory on court two after Henry von der Schulenburg and Harris Walker bested Garrett Johns and Pedro Rodenas for the early advantage.
- The final two matches in doubles play were knotted at 6-6 and needed a tiebreak to determine a winner. Unfortunately, the visitors secured the doubles point when they outlasted the Blue Devils on court three, following Steven Sun and Ronan Jachuck’s 7-6 (6) victory over Faris Khan and Niroop Vallabhaneni.
- The match between No. 49 Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang against Daniel Milavsky and Valdemar Pape went unfinished at 6-6 with Duke holding the 2-1 edge in the tiebreak when the match was halted.
- Sophomore Jake Krug quickly evened the score at 1-1 in the overall match when he began singles action with a 6-1, 6-4 win on court six over Pape.
- The Crimson responded with back-to-back victories to pull in front 3-1. Sun defeated Khan 6-3, 6-2 on court five before No. 22 von der Schulenburg recorded a 6-4, 7-5 victory over No. 101 Zhang on court two.
- The Blue Devils continued to battle after No. 84 Rodenas cut into the Crimson lead at 3-2 with his third dual win of the year. The rookie from Madrid, Spain, bested Jachuck on court three in tiebreak fashion 6-4, 7-6 (3).
- Unfortunately, the visitors claimed the final point needed on court four to secure the overall win. Connor Krug dropped his first set, 6-1, to Milavsky, but fought back to post a 7-6 (5) tiebreak win in the second. With the match coming down to the outcome of the third frame, Milavsky outlasted Connor Krug, 6-1, to record the win.
- The Blue Devils received one final victory from No. 4 Johns over No. 46 Walker on the top court. The senior claimed a 6-4 victory in the first set but dropped a 6-4 decision in the second, forcing a third and final frame. The Atlanta, Ga., native rebounded for the 6-2 win to secure Duke’s final point of the match.
Notes
- Harvard now owns a 14-2 edge on the all-time series.
- Jake Krug and Rodenas remain unbeaten in singles dual action on the early season.
Next Match
Duke returns to the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center on Sunday evening at 6 p.m., when it hosts North Carolina Central.
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Results
Doubles (2,3*)
1. #49 Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (DU) vs. Daniel Milavsky/Valdemar Pape (HARV) 6-6 (2-1), unfinished
2. Henry von der Schule/Harris Walker (HARV) def. Garrett Johns/Pedro Rodenas (DU) 6-1
3. Steven Sun/Ronan Jachuck (HARV) def. Faris Khan/Niroop Vallabhaneni (DU) 7-6 (8-6)
Singles (6,5,2,3,4*,1)
1. #4 Garrett Johns (DU) def. #46 Harris Walker (HARV) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
2. #22 Henry von der Schule (HARV) def. #101 Andrew Zhang (DU) 6-4, 7-5
3. #84 Pedro Rodenas (DU) def. Ronan Jachuck (HARV) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Daniel Milavsky (HARV) def. Connor Krug (DU) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1
5. Steven Sun (HARV) def. Faris Khan (DU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Jake Krug (DU) def. Valdemar Pape (HARV) 6-1, 6-4
#GoDuke
