Blue Devils Fall in Nailbiter at Northwestern, 4-3

DURHAM – No. 8 Duke men’s tennis was edged by Northwestern on Sunday afternoon, 4-3, at Combe Tennis Center.  
 
The Blue Devils fall to 5-3 overall, while the Wildcats improve to 2-5.
 
How It Happened

• No. 14 Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang began doubles play with a 6-2 victory over Presley Thieneman and Greyson Casey on court two. Chad Miller and Saiprakash Goli then defeated Connor Krug and Faris Khan on court three, 6-4, to knot the doubles points up at 1-1. With the doubles point coming down to the outcome on court one, unfortunately Felix Nordby and Gleb Blekher outlasted Garrett Johns and Pedro Rodenas, 6-4, to secure the overall point.
• Northwestern extended its lead to 3-0 early in singles action after wins on court two and four, respectively. Thieneman bested Zhang 6-2, 6-2, before Nordby defeated Andrew Dale 6-3, 6-2.
• The Blue Devils would then fight all the way back to knot the match up at 3-3.
• Jake Krug started the rally with a three-set victory over Casey on court five. The Lakewood, Ranch, Fla., native tallied a 6-4 win in the first set but dropped the second, 6-3. Fortunately, he was able to rebound for a 6-3 victory in the final frame to record his sixth dual win this season.
• Johns followed that up with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Blekher on the top court to pull Duke within one at 3-2.
• Rookie Alexander Visser then tied the match following his three-set victory over Miller on court six. He earned a 6-4 in the first frame but fell in a tiebreak during the second 7-6 (4). The Westport, Conn., native then bounced back for a 6-2 win in the final set for his second career dual victory.
• With…