Duke Downs Men’s Tennis, 5-2

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Sixteenth-ranked Duke won the doubles point and went on to a 5-2 at No. 13 North Carolina on Saturday afternoon on the indoor courts at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center. Connor Krug won the clinching match at No. 4 singles to give Duke the victory.
 
The Blue Devils improved to 16-5 overall this season, 9-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with their win. Carolina fell to 15-7, 7-3 and missed a chance to tie Duke for second place in the ACC standings with two matches remaining in the regular season.
 
Duke captured the doubles point to start the afternoon, handing the Tar Heels a 1-0 deficit for just the fifth time in 22 matches this season. Krug and Teddy Truwitt beat Benjamin Kittay and Logan Zapp, 6-1, at No. 3 doubles, then Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang beat Will Jansen and Karl Poling, 7-5, at No. 2 for the point.
 
Duke won four of six first sets to maintain its momentum to begin singles action, eventually taking a 2-0 lead when Pedro Rodenas, ranked No. 85 nationally, topped No. 30 Ryan Seggerman, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 2.
 
The Tar Heels roared back to tie the team score at 2-2 behind singles wins from Jansen and Kittay. Jansen dominated Zhang in straight sets at No. 3 singles, 6-1 and 6-2. Kittay followed with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6 over Jake Krug to excite the crowd and tie the score.
 
Duke then retook the lead behind a 7-5, 6-4 win by No. 19 Garrett Johns over No. 47 Brian Cernoch at No. 1 to make the score 3-2. Connor Krug won the clincher at No. 4 singles, edging Poling in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.

“We fought hard, we got in position and got right back in the match,” said head coach Sam Paul afterward. “We got a slow start in doubles, and then came right back and were dead even at two-two. We fought back and we did play a really good match at number three [by Jansen]. We got back in the match and were in a position to capitalize on some things. I was proud of how the guys fought, but credit to Duke for playing a good match.”

 

The Tar Heels will return to action next weekend when they close their regular season with home matches against Florida State (Friday April 14 at 6 p.m.) and Miami (Sunday April 16 at 1 p.m.). The 2023 ACC Championship will be held April 19-23 in Cary, N.C.

Tennis Match Results

Duke vs North Carolina 04/08/2023

at Chapel Hill, N.C. (Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)

#16 Duke 5, #13 North Carolina 2

Singles competition

1. #19 Garrett Johns (DU) def. #47 Brian Cernoch (NC) 7-5, 6-4

2. #85 Pedro…