No. 2 Kentucky Remains Undefeated, Knocks Off [RV] Duke

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Males’s Tennis staff, ranked second within the newest ITA rankings, knocked off [RV] Duke, 4-3, contained in the Hilary J. Boone Indoor Tennis Middle on Sunday afternoon. Regardless of dropping the doubles level, Kentucky rattled off 4 straight factors in singles motion to clinch the match. With the victory over the Blue Devils, Kentucky earned its fourth consecutive victory over an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Convention. The ‘Cats had beforehand knocked off No. 1 Virginia, Virginia Tech, and No. 23 Louisville in highway matches over the previous week. The consequence strikes the Wildcats’ file to 10-0 on the 2023 marketing campaign, together with an ideal 7-0 mark contained in the Boone.

Like on Friday night in Louisville, Kentucky fell brief in doubles motion. Duke was in a position to take tight victories on Courts 1 and three, with each defeats coming by a single break.

Trailing 1-0, the formidable Kentucky singles lineup did its job as soon as once more. Led by 4 of its 5 singles gamers ranked on this week’s ITA rankings, Kentucky was in a position to race out to fast leads on all 4 courts within the first flight.

Taking part in at No. 3 Singles, No. 16 Joshua Lapadat was the primary to complete for the ‘Cats, leveling up the match with a scientific 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 88 Pedro Rodenas of Duke. With the match tied at one, doubles companions Liam Draxl and Alafia Ayeni would declare victories on the highest two singles courts. No. 45 Draxl, enjoying at No. 2 Singles for simply the second time this yr, was in a position to take down two-time All-ACC performer Andrew Zhang, 7-5, 6-1. Seconds after Draxl gave Kentucky the general benefit, Ayeni would declare victory on the highest courtroom, 7-5, 6-3. Ayeni, ranked No. 66, knocked off the nation’s No. 6 participant, Garret Johns, whereas additionally incomes his second straight win over a top-30 opponent. As soon as once more, it was Taha Baadi who clinched the match for the ‘Cats. Taking part in at No. 4 singles, Baadi knocked off Connor Krug at hand Kentucky the all-important fourth level and proceed an undefeated begin to his Wildcat profession.

The 2 groups elected to play out the remaining singles matches, the place Duke would declare the ultimate two factors in third-set match tiebreaks. No. 57 Charlelie Cosnet got here again after dropping the primary set, however finally fell to his Blue Satan opposition, 6-2, 1-6, [10-8]. JJ Mercer would additionally come again from a set down earlier than falling within the deciding tiebreaker, 7-6(4), 1-6, [10-8].

Kentucky will return to motion on Friday, Feb. 17 within the ITA Indoor Nationwide Championships. The Wildcats earned a bid to the occasion for the second straight yr by claiming victory in its ITA Kickoff Weekend Regional. Hosted by the College of Illinois, the match will happen in Chicago, Unwell. on the XS Tennis Village. Motion will take begin with first spherical play on Friday and conclude with the championship match on Monday, Feb. 20. Every staff is assured a minimum of three matches within the 16-team occasion. Attracts might be introduced early subsequent week. Followers can comply with together with reside scores, watch on-line by means of Cracked Racquets, or buy ticked by means of the ITA web site.

RESULTS

Kentucky vs. Duke

Doubles

Heller/Zhang(DUKE) def. Ayeni/Draxl (UK) 6-4

Johns/Rodenas (DUKE) def. LeBlanc/Weekes (UK) 6-3

Lapadat/Mercer (UK) vs. Krug/Truwit (DUKE) 5-5 (unfinished)

Singles

No. 66 Alafia Ayeni (UK) def. No. 6 Garret Johns (DUKE) 7-5, 6-3

No. 45 Liam Draxl (UK) def. Andrew Zhang (DUKE) 7-5, 6-1

No. 16 Joshua Lapadat (UK) def. No. 88 Pedro Rodenas (DUKE) 6-1, 6-2

No. 115 Taha Baadi (UK) def. Connor Krug (DUKE) 6-4, 7-6(2)

Andrew Dale (DUKE) def. No. 57 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) 6-2, 1-6, [10-8]

Michael Heller (DUKE) def. JJ Mercer (UK) 7-6 (4), 1-6, [10-8]

Order of End:

Doubles—2, 1

Singles—3, 2, 1, 4, 5, 6

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