Duke Drops Nailbiter at Northwestern, 4-3

Sunday, February 6

Evanston, Ill.

12 p.m. CT

Duke University

Northwestern

Duke Drops Nailbiter at Northwestern, 4-3

2/6/2022 5:43:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

EVANSTON, ILL. – Duke's comeback bid fell short Sunday afternoon at Northwestern, 4-3 at Combe Tennis Center.

For the second-consecutive match, the Blue Devils dropped a heartbreaker after the doubles point proved to be the difference. Both teams registered three singles wins but the Wildcats claimed the doubles point to secure their seventh victory of the year. Duke falls to 3-2 in the early part of the spring season.

With the overall match tied at 3-3, the outcome on singles court No. 1 was going to decide the winner. No. 76 Garrett Johns and Steven Forman were locked in a battle with each registering a victory during the opening two sets. Johns bested Forman 7-6 (0) in the first frame before Forman responded with a 6-1 win in the second. The pair were even at 6-6 before Forman outlasted his nationally ranked foe to register the 7-6 (4) tiebreak win.

The Wildcats also earned victories on court three and six to help in the win. No. 92 Trice Pickens bested No. 38 Faris Khan 6-4, 6-1 on court three before Brian Berdusco defeated Niroop Vallabhaneni 7-6 (1), 6-1 on court six.

After dropping the doubles point, the Blue Devils did make things interesting in singles action as victories by Connor Krug, Andrew Dale and Andrew Zhang kept Duke in it. Krug led off singles play with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Presely Thieneman on court four to tie the overall match at 1-1. The Wildcats then claimed victories on court three and six to pull back in front at 3-1. Duke would respond with back-to-back wins of its own by Dale and Zhang to knot the score at 3-3. Dale bested Felix Nordby 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on court five, before Zhang secured a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback win over Simen Bratholm on court two.

Unfortunately, the home team would record the win on the main court to register the victory.

In doubles play, Bratholm and Berdusco defeated No. 39 Michael Heller and Zhang, 6-4, on court two to give the Wildcats an early 1-0 edge. Duke answered with a victory by No. 37 Johns and Sean Sculley over Forman and Nordby on the top court to pull the doubles point even at 1-1. Pickens and Natan Spear then outlasted Khan and Vallabhaneni, 7-6 (5) to claim the doubles point and hand Northwestern a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.

The Blue Devils are back in Durham next weekend when they host VCU and Kentucky for two matches at Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center. Duke welcomes the Rams on Friday at 6 p.m., before the Wildcats come to town on Sunday for a 12 p.m. match.

RESULTS
Doubles (2,1,3*)
1. #37 Sean Sculley/Garrett Johns (DU) def. Steven Forman/Felix Nordby (NU) 7-5
2. Simen Bratholm/Brian Berdusco (NU) def. #39 Andrew Zhang/Michael Heller (DU) 6-4
3. Trice Pickens/Natan Spear (NU) def. Niroop Vallabhaneni/Faris Khan (DU) 7-6 (7-5)

Singles (4,3,6,5,2,1*)
1. Steven Forman (NU) def. #76 Garrett Johns (DU) 6-7 (0-7), 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Andrew Zhang (DU) def. #104 Simen Bratholm (NU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. #92 Trice Pickens (NU) def. #38 Faris Khan (DU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Connor Krug (DU) def. Presley Thieneman (NU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Andrew Dale (DU) def. Felix Nordby (NU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
6. Brian Berdusco (NU) def. Niroop Vallabhaneni (DU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-1

#GoDuke