The No. 32 University of Louisville men’s tennis team suffered a 4-1 defeat to No. 28 Middle Tennessee State on senior day at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center, marking their final match of the regular season. The Cardinals’ season record now stands at 15-10, while Middle Tennessee State advances to 19-7 overall.
The doubles point proved to be a nail-biter, with the outcome ultimately decided on court one. Louisville’s Sergio Hernandez and Natan Rodrigues handily defeated MTSU’s No. 3 pair with a 6-1 victory. However, David Mizrahi and Alex Wesbrooks fell 6-4 in their No. 2 doubles match. Etienne Donnet and Fabien Salle battled it out on court one before succumbing to a 7-6 (11-9) loss, giving Middle Tennessee State the doubles point.
No. 50-ranked Salle secured the Cardinals’ only point of the match with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph at No. 3 singles. Hernandez was defeated 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 4 singles match, while Andre Steinbach lost 7-5, 6-0 at No. 5 singles. The Blue Raiders clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 28-ranked Donnet at No. 2 singles.
“Tough day for Louisville,” remarked head coach Rodrigo da Silva. “We were trying to finish the season with a win for the seniors. They did so much for the program. Today, Middle Tennessee played better than us. The guys fought hard, I’m always proud of how they fight. Now, we have to focus on ACC, and hopefully stay ready for the NCAAs and do something for the seniors that we didn’t do at home.”
The Cardinals have secured the No. 7 seed in the ACC Championship and are set to face 10th-seeded Notre Dame on Thursday at 6 PM at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, North Carolina.
#28 Middle Tennessee 4, #32 Louisville 1
Singles
1. #81 Natan Rodrigues (LOU) vs. Francisco Rocha (MTSU) 6-1, 3-6, 1-1, unfinished
2. #76 Stijn Slump (MTSU) def. #50 Etienne Donnet (LOU) 6-4, 6-4
3. #50 Fabien Salle (LOU) def. #125 O. Brostrom Poulsen (MTSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Ondrej Horak (MTSU) def. Sergio Hernandez (LOU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Pavel Motl (MTSU) def. Andre Steinbach (LOU) 7-5, 6-0
6. David Mizrahi (LOU) vs. Marcel Kamrowski (MTSU) 7-5, 3-4, unfinished
Doubles
1. #48 Francisco Rocha/O. Brostrom Poulsen (MTSU) def. Etienne Donnet/Fabien Salle (LOU) 7-6 (11-9)
2. Stijn Slump/Pavel Motl (MTSU) def. Alex Wesbrooks/David Mizrahi (LOU) 6-4
3. Sergio Hernandez/Natan Rodrigues (LOU) def. Ondrej Horak/Marcel Kamrowski (MTSU) 6-1
Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 19-7; National ranking #28
Louisville Men’s Tennis 15-10; National ranking #32
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,5,4,2)
T-1:56 hrs A-132