CARY, N.C. – No. 12 Duke men’s tennis dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 8 Virginia in the ACC Championship title match on Sunday afternoon at Cary Tennis Park.
Virginia (24-4) earned its third consecutive ACC crown, while Duke (20-6) was handed just its sixth loss of the year, five of which have come against opponents ranked in the top-25.
The Cavaliers garnered the doubles point before extending their lead to 2-0 early in singles play. Rookie Pedro Rodenas tried to spark a Blue Devil rally when he cut the deficit down to 2-1 after his seventh victory over a nationally ranked opponent. With the final four singles matches in three sets, the reigning national champions were able to outlast Duke’s surge to secure the needed two points to earn the title.
How It Happened
- Ryan Goetz and Alexander Kiefer began doubles play by defeating juniors Faris Khan and Niroop Vallabhaneni on court three, 6-3. The Cavaliers then claimed the doubles point after Chris Rodesch and Jeffrey von der Schulenburg registered a 6-4 win on court two over sophomore Connor Krug and freshman Teddy Truwit.
- The match on the top court between the senior-freshman duo of No. 21 Garrett Johns and Rodenas against William Woodall and Inaki Montes De La Torre went unfinished with the Cavaliers leading, 5-4.
- Virginia extended its lead to 2-0 early in singles play after No. 43 von der Schulenburg bested Andrew Zhang on court three 6-4, 6-2.
- No. 72 Rodenas cut into the Cavaliers’ lead when he defeated fellow Spaniard and No. 21 Montes 6-3, 6-3 on court two.
- The next match to finish was on court six,…
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