EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern men’s tennis opened the duals season in style, defeating Notre Dame, #19 NC State, and Chicago State over the weekend. The Wildcats defeated Notre Dame 4-0 in their first match of 2023 on Sunday, and followed it up by winning both matches in Monday’s doubleheader, defeating #19 NC State 4-3 and Chicago State 4-0.
Northwestern’s 3-0 start is its best start to a duals season since winning its first nine matches in 2017.
Three up, three down ???? pic.twitter.com/SXggIG6MFD
— NU Men’s Tennis (@NUMensTennis) January 17, 2023
The Wildcats got off to a hot start against Notre Dame, securing the doubles point thanks to wins from the duos of Ivan Yatsuk/Simen Bratholm (6-4) and Trice Pickens/Natan Spear (6-3). The ‘Cats stayed hot in singles play, collecting wins from Ivan Yastuk (7-6 (4), 6-3), Trice Pickens (6-2, 6-4), and Gleb Blekher (6-1, 6-4) to close out the match.
Against nationally ranked NC State, however, the Wildcats had to come from down 2-0 after losing the doubles point and the first point of singles play. Northwestern roared back to win the next four points, receiving wins from Steven Forman (6-3, 7-5), Ivan Yatsuk (4-6, 6-4, 6-3), Simen Bratholm (7-5, 7-5), and Trice Pickens (7-6 (5), 7-6 (6)) to clinch the match.
Northwestern finished off the weekend by sweeping Chicago State 4-0. Wins from the doubles teams of Trice Pickens/Natan Spear (6-2) and Presley Thieneman/Gleb Blekher (6-2) earned the doubles point, and Ivan Yatsuk (6-2, 6-0), Presley Thieneman (6-0, 6-2), and Natan Spear (6-2, 6-0) closed out the match.
The Wildcats will travel to Kentucky this weekend to take on the Louisville Cardinals on Sunday, January 22 at 11 a.m. CT.
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