Blue Devils Improve to 2-0 in ACC with 4-2 win over Louisville

DURHAM – No. 22 Duke men’s tennis bested No. 20 Louisville on Friday afternoon at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center for its second ACC win of the year.
 
The Blue Devils (9-4, 2-0 ACC) handed the Cardinals (9-3, 0-1 ACC) their third loss of the season and ended their four-match winning streak. With the win, Duke extended its winning streak to three straight.
 
Junior Andrew Dale secured the victory for Duke after recording his second match-clinching win of the year on court five.

How It Happened

• Rookie Pedro Rodenas got the Blue Devils started with his second victory over a nationally ranked foe when he defeated No. 44 Natan Rodrigues 6-4, 6-3 on court two.
• The Cardinals tied the match up after No. 49 Fabien Salle recorded a three-set victory over senior Andrew Zhang on court three. The Bloomfield Hills, Mich., native registered a 7-6 (5) tiebreak win in the opening set but dropped the next two 6-1, 6-3.
• Senior No. 5 Garrett Johns put the Blue Devils back on top, 2-1, following his 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over No. 23 Etienne Donnet on the top court.
• Louisville would not go away, tying the overall match up at 2-2 after Matthew Fung defeated freshman Connor Krug on court four 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
• Duke again pulled in front following Michael Heller‘s win on court six. The Boca Raton, Fla., native posted a 6-1 win in the first frame but dropped the second 6-4. The senior bounced back to secure the 6-4 victory in the final set for his fourth dual win of the year.
• The match on court five was the last to finish with Dale clinching the overall match for the Blue Devils. He dropped his opening set…