Cards Fall 4-1 to Northwestern

Friday, January 31

LOUISVILLE, KY

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

NORTHWESTERN

January 31, 2020 | Men's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Kyle Echsner

Louisville, Ky. – The University of Louisville men's tennis team fell 4-1 to Northwestern Friday afternoon at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

The Wildcats (4-1) took the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. The duo of Chris Ephron and Dominik Stary beat Louisville's Tin Chen and Matthew Fung 6-3 at No. 2 spot to give the Wildcats the early edge. Natan Spear and Steven Forman sealed the first point of the match with a 6-2 victory over David Mizrahi and Alex Wesbrooks at the two-spot.

In singles action, Northwestern added another point when Simen Bratholm defeated Matthew Fung at the No. 6 spot.

Mizrahi picked up UofL's first point with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Trice Pickens to make the score 2-1.

Steven Forman, No. 123 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association single rankings, extended the Wildcats' lead with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Sergio Hernandez on court 2.

Northwestern led 3-1 with the final three courts in third sets. At No. 3, sophomore Fabien Salle rebounded from a 6-2 first set loss to No. 125 Nick Brookes to take a 6-2 win in the second. Brookes prevailed 6-3 in the decisive third set to clinch the win for the Wildcats.

On court five, freshman Daniel Fainblum was leading Ephron 1-6, 6-3, 5-2 and Chen was in a 5-7, 6-4, 1-1 battle with Stary when their matches were suspended.

"Every time we play Northwestern, it's an exciting match," said UofL head coach Rodrigo da Silva. "We started too flat and they took advantage of it and when we tried to come back, it was just too late. I'm very proud of how the guys competed. Even though we didn't get off to a great start, the guys came back and we had a chance to win. Now it's time to go back to work and get ready for Oregon.

Louisville (5-2, 1-0 ACC) will return to action Friday when they welcome Oregon to the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center at 4 p.m.

Northwestern 4, Louisville Men's Tennis 1
January 31, 2020 at Louisville, Ky.
(Bass-Rudd Tennis Center)
Singles
1. #42 Tin Chen (LOU) vs. Dominik Stary (NU) 5-7, 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
2. #123 Steven Forman (NU) def. Sergio Hernandez (LOU) 6-2, 6-4
3. #125 Nick Brookes (NU) def. Fabien Salle (LOU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
4. David Mizrahi (LOU) def. Trice Pickens (NU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Daniel Fainblum (LOU) vs. Chris Ephron (NU) 1-6, 6-3, 5-2, unfinished
6. Simen Bratholm (NU) def. Matthew Fung (LOU) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
1. Sergio Hernandez/Fabien Salle (LOU) vs. Nick Brookes/Simen Bratholm (NU) 3-5, unfinished
2. Chris Ephron/Dominik Stary (NU) def. Tin Chen/Matthew Fung (LOU) 6-3 (2-0)
3. Natan Spear/Steven Forman (NU) def. David Mizrahi/Alex Wesbrooks (LOU) 6-2

Match Notes:
Northwestern 4-1
Louisville Men's Tennis 5-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,4,2,3)
T-2:23 A-87