Cardinals Await At-Large Bid to NCAA Championship Following 4-0 Loss
The University of Louisville men’s tennis team’s run in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship came to an end with a 4-0 loss to the No. 12-ranked Duke. The No. 36-ranked Cardinals now hold a 16-12 record as they await an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship.
The match began with the Cardinals dropping the doubles point. Duke’s No. 21-ranked pair, Garrett Johns and Pedro Rodenas, defeated UofL’s Etienne Donnet and Alex Wesbrooks 6-2 on court one. Despite a 6-3 win by Sergio Hernandez and Natan Rodrigues on court two for the Cardinals, the doubles point was ultimately decided by the No. 3 slot. Duke’s Faris Khan and Niroop Vallabhaneni edged out UofL’s Fabien Salle and Will Mayhew 7-6 (7-5).
In singles play, Duke’s No. 72-ranked Pedro Rodenas bested No. 34-ranked Etienne Donnet of Louisville with a 6-3, 6-2 victory. The Cardinals’ Sergio Hernandez suffered a 6-3, 6-4 loss to No. 61-ranked Andrew Zhang on court four. The match was ultimately determined on court five, where Louisville’s Andre Steinbach fell 6-1, 6-4.
Following the loss, the Cardinals look ahead to the NCAA Championship selection show on May 1, which will be announced on NCAA.com. The team hopes for an at-large bid, allowing them to continue their pursuit of national success.
Tennis Match Results
Louisville Men’s Tennis vs Duke
4/21/2023 at Cary, N.C.
(Cary Tennis Park)
Duke 4, Louisville Men’s Tennis 0
Singles competition
1. #13 Garrett Johns (DU) vs. Natan Rodrigues (LOU-MT) 7-6 (7-4), 1-2, unfinished
2. #72 Pedro Rodenas (DU) def. #34 Etienne Donnet (LOU-MT) 6-3, 6-2
3. #61 Andrew Zhang (DU) vs. Fabien Salle (LOU-MT) 6-2, 5-5, unfinished
4. Connor Krug (DU) def. Sergio Hernandez (LOU-MT) 6-3, 6-4
5. Andrew Dale (DU) def. Andre Steinbach (LOU-MT) 6-1, 6-4
6. Faris Khan (DU) vs. David Mizrahi (LOU-MT) 6-7 (5-7), 2-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #21 Garrett Johns/Pedro Rodenas (DU) def. Etienne Donnet/Alex Wesbrooks (LOU-MT) 6-2
2. Sergio Hernandez/Natan Rodrigues (LOU-MT) def. Connor Krug/Teddy Truwit (DU) 6-3
3. Faris Khan/Niroop Vallabhaneni (DU) def. Fabien Salle/Will Mayew (LOU-MT) 7-6 (7-5)
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,4,5)
2023 ACC Men’s Tennis Championship: Match 8