Heller and Zhang are Finals Bound After Two Wins on Monday

CARY, N.C.  – The Blue Devil duo of graduate students Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang advanced to the doubles final of the 2023 ITA Carolina Regional Championships on Monday at the Cary Tennis Park.

The pair defeated eighth-seeded Lucas Andrade da Silva and Jelani Sarr of South Carolina, 8-5, in their opening match before earning a thrilling three-set victory over Wake Forest’s Dhakshineswar Suresh and Holden Koons. After dropping the first set, 6-3, the pair rebounded with back-to-back victories at 7-6 (5), 10-4, to claim the win and advance to Tuesday’s final.

With the win, the duo earned an automatic bid to the 2023 ITA National Fall Championships, held Nov. 1-5, at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, Calif.

Heller and Zhang face Joseph Wayand and Martin Borisiouk of NC State in the championship match at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

Doubles

Quarterfinals

[1] Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (Duke) def. [8] Lucas Andrade da Silva/Jelani Sarr (USC) 8-5

Semifinals

[1] Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (Duke) def. Dhakshineswar Suresh/Holden Koons (WFU) 3-6, 7-6 (5), 10-4

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Doubles

Finals [Tuesday]:

[1] Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (Duke) vs. [5] Joseph Wayand/Martin Borisiouk (NCSU) – 10 a.m.

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