CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 21 Illinois men’s tennis team (13-8) lost to No. 2 Ohio State (19-2), 4-0, at Shahid and Ann Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex on Sunday afternoon.
“We have the student athletes to get the job done,” head coach Brad Dancer said, “It was evident today we are not in the mindset to take control of the Big Ten. Tennis matches are like prize fights – you have to hit with your best and you have to take your opponent’s best. The difference is you can’t get KO’d.
So you walk on the court and start punching and start defending and you have to get used to getting punched in the gut, and punching back and realize this is tennis. It doesn’t go away, so get comfortable fighting and being tough. When this team is able to consistently do that we will have a great squad. Until we can be consistent in that then we are what we are.”
Alex Petrov and Kenta Miyoshi were the first to fall in doubles, losing 6-2 to Cannon Kingsley and JJ Tracy. No. 36 Robert Cash and Justin Boulais then defeated No. 56 Oliver Okonkwo and Mathis Debru, 6-4.
Karlis Ozolins and Hunter Heck’s match went unfinished at 4-5.
No. 15 Tracy defeated William Mroz first, 6-1, 6-2, before Jack Anthrop beat Nic Meister, 6-2, 6-1. No. 25 James Trotter clinched the match for the Buckeyes with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win against Petrov.
Okonkwo, Heck and Ozolins were all in their third sets when the match was clinched, leaving theirs unfinished.
The Illini will be back in action against Purdue on March 31 at 2 p.m. in West Lafayette, Ind.
Results
Doubles competition
1….
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