DURHAM, N.C. – After a hard-fought battle, Illinois fell to No. 15 Duke, 4-2, from the Blue Devils’ home court on Saturday night. The Illini claimed the doubles point and saw Kida Ferrari earn a win at No. 6 singles from Durham, North Carolina.
Illinois moved to 3-1 on the season following a 1-1 weekend on the East Coast. The Illini are now 1-8 all-time against Duke. The Blue Devils marked the first ranked opponent for the Orange and Blue this dual season.
After falling behind 1-0 on the double courts with Duke grabbing a 6-4 win at No. 1, Illinois battled back and claimed 7-5 victories at both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to secure the opening point. Kate Duong and Josie Frazier trailed 5-4 at No. 2 before winning the last three games to clinch the Illini doubles win.
The senior duo is now 3-0 on the campaign while Violeta Martinez and Ferrari improved to 2-2. Illinois has won the doubles point in two matches this season.
After Duke tied the match at 1-1 with a win at No. 3 singles, Ferrari put the Illini back in the lead. The junior earned a 6-1, 6-4 win over Duke’s No. 78 Brianna Shvets at No. 6 singles.
The Blue Devils responded with wins at No. 2 and No. 5 singles moments apart to take a 3-2 lead over the Orange and Blue.
Duke secured the win with a straight-set victory at No. 1 singles.
Next weekend, Illinois heads to Norman, Oklahoma, for ITA Kickoff Weekend. Illinois will take on California at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 27. On Sunday, the Illini will face either Oklahoma or UCF at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m., based on result.
FULL RESULTS: NO. 15 DUKE 4, ILLINOIS 2
Doubles:
No. 1 – Kimchi/Kerankova (Duke) def. Megan Heuser/McKenna Schaefbauer – 6-4
No. 2 – Kate Duong/Josie Frazier def. Jackson/Coleman (Duke) – 7-5
No. 3 – Kida Ferrari/Violeta Martinez def. Bryzgalova/Shvets (Duke) – 7-5
Singles:
No. 1 – No. 65 Shavit Kimchi (Duke) def. Megan Heuser – 7-6 (2), 6-2
No. 2 – Emma Jackson (Duke) def. Kate Duong – 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 – No. 74 Elizabeth Coleman (Duke) def. Kasia Treiber – 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 – Violeta Martinez vs. No. 52 Katie Codd (Duke) – 6-1, 4-6, 1-0, unfinished
No. 5 – Iuliia Bryzgalova (Duke) def. McKenna Schaefbauer – 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 – Kida Ferrari def. No. 78 Brianna Shvets (Duke) – 6-1, 6-4
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 1, 3, 2
Singles: 3, 6, 2, 5,…
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