Duke Set for Three Home Matches

Match 8
Duke vs. No. 17 Tennessee – Feb. 7, 2020
Live Results | Watch
Match 9
Duke vs. Kentucky – Feb. 9, 2020
Live Results | Watch
Match 10
Duke vs. NC Central – Feb. 9, 2020
Live Results | Watch

DURHAM, N.C. – Following a 2-0 weekend, Duke men's tennis will play host to No. 17 Tennessee on Friday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. before a doubleheader with Kentucky and NC Central on Sunday, Feb. 9. The doubleheader matches will start at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, in the Sheffield Tennis Center.

HISTORY WITH TENNESSEE
Tennessee holds the edge over Duke in previous matchups as the Volunteers lead the all-time series, 15-11, with back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019. The Blue Devils notched a 4-0 victory the last time Tennessee played on Duke's home courts (Feb. 12, 2017).

SCOUTING THE VOLUNTEERS
In the latest Oracle/ITA team rankings, the Vols maintained their No. 17 ranking after a 9-1 start to the 2020 season. In nine of Tennessee's wins, the team has blanked its opponents. The Vols are coming off a close 4-3 win over Wichita State at home. Tennessee has two players ranked by the ITA in singles – Adam Walton (13) and Finn Stodder (117).

HISTORY WITH KENTUCKY
The Blue Devils lead the all-time series, 13-7, against the Wildcats. The two programs last met in Lexington on Jan. 21, 2019 where Kentucky secured a 4-1 win at home. In the last 10 meetings, the series is tied at 5-5.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Kentucky holds a 6-2 record through the first month of play, with losses at the hands of No. 7 Wake Forest (4-2) and most recently, Oklahoma (5-2). While the Wildcats are receiving votes in the team rankings, Kentucky's Alexandre Leblanc ranks 52nd in singles.

HISTORY WITH NC CENTRAL
Duke has won all 15 matches against NC Central, dating back to 1972. The Blue Devils played the Eagles twice last season, winning, 7-0, on Feb. 16 before a 4-0 victory on April 14. All matches between Duke and NC Central have been held at Duke.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
The Eagles are still looking for their first win of the season after dropping the first three matches, falling to No. 4 North Carolina (7-0), East Carolina (7-0) and UNC Asheville (5-2). Before NC Central plays Duke, the Eagles will travel to Elon on Friday for an early afternoon match against the Phoenix.

BLUE DEVILS IN THE RANKINGS
Starting the season at 7-0, Duke broke into the Tennis Channel/USTA College Tennis Top 25 at No. 21, while receiving votes in the Oracle/ITA rankings.

After a 3-0 mark at No. 1 doubles thus far in dual action, seniors Nick Stachowiak and Sean Sculley improved in the ITA rankings, jumping five spots to No. 6. Freshmen Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang landed at No. 22, up from No. 42, while Zhang also improved in the singles rankings, climbing four spots to No. 113.

BIG 2-0 WEEKEND
Duke began last weekend defeating 19th-ranked Illinois, 6-1, on Friday night. Stachowiak/Sculley notched the doubles point while Spencer Furman clinched the match with a 7-5, 6-4 win on court four. Battling on the top court, Stachowiak beat Aleks Kovacevic – a 2019 NCAA Semifinalist – 7-6(5), 6-4 while Edu Guell defeat No. 61 Zeke Clark in a super tiebreaker on court three (7-6 [4], 4-6, 10-6). Freshmen Samuel Rubell and Garretts Johns both picked up victories at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively.

The Blue Devils improved their win streak to seven with a 4-0 showing against Northwestern on Sunday. The doubles decision came down to Stachowiak and Sculley once again as they defeated their Wildcat opponents in a tiebreaker (7-6 [5]). Furman finished first with a 6-1, 6-2 win, followed by Stachowiak's victory over No. 123 Steven Forman on court one (7-6[5], 6-2). Rubell notched his seventh singles win of the dual season and the final point for Duke (4-0) with a 6-4, 7-5 triumph on court five.

FRIDAY FOOD
Free pizza will be available while supplies last at Friday's match vs. Tennessee. The match will also be a Royal Blue event so come out and show your support for men's tennis!

UP NEXT
Following the three-match weekend, the Blue Devils will take a few weeks off and return to action with their first ACC matchup of the season against Virginia Tech on Friday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. Duke will then host a doubleheader with Coastal Carolina and Holy Cross on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.

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Duke Set for Three Home Matches

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Players Mentioned

Spencer Furman

Michael Heller

Samuel Rubell

Sean Sculley

Nick Stachowiak

Andrew Zhang

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Duke Set for Three Home Matches

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Players Mentioned

Spencer Furman

Michael Heller

Samuel Rubell

Sean Sculley

Nick Stachowiak

Andrew Zhang

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