Louisville Takes Down No. 17 Duke

Sunday, March 27

Durham, NC

12:00 PM

University of Louisville

Duke

Natan Rodrigues and Matthew Fung react during the game against Tennessee State on March 6, 2022.

Photo by: Rachel Klotz | Louisville Athletics

March 27, 2022 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

By: Lori Harmon

DURHAM, N.C. – The University of Louisville men's tennis team defeated No. 17 Duke 5-2 in an ACC matchup Sunday at Duke's Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center. With the win, the Cardinals improve to 14-6 on the season and 6-2 in ACC play.

Louisville will return to conference action this weekend when No. 34 NC State visits the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on Friday and No. 8 Wake Forest comes to town for a Sunday matchup. The Cardinals will honor seniors Tin Chen and Josh Howard-Tripp prior to Sunday's match against the Demon Deacons.

The Cardinals took the doubles point to start the match. Matthew Fung and Alex Wesbrooks gave the Cardinals an early advantage in doubles with their 6-2 win over Andrew Dale and Arturo Kam at the three-spot. The Blue Devils responded on court one where Faris Khan and Niroop Vallabheneni defeated Etienne Donnet and Tin Chen 6-3. The first point of the match came down to court two, where Natan Rodrigues and Sergio Hernandez battled Garrett Johns and Sean Sculley to a 5-5 tie and prevailed 7-5 to give Louisville a 1-0 lead.

In singles action, Donnet, No. 117 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings, took down No. 64 Garrett Johns 6-1, 7-5, extending the lead to 2-0. Josh Howard-Tripp defeated Andrew Zhang 7-6 (6), 6-3 to put the Cards on top 3-0. Natan Rodrigues' 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Edu Guell sealed the victory for Louisville. David Mizrahi added another singles win at the six-spot with his 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 decision against Dale.

Duke (13-5, 6-2) got on the scoreboard with Connor Krug's 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) win against Chen at No. 3. On court four, Faris Khan outlasted Sergio Hernandez 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (11) for the 5-2 final.

Sunday's victory marked Louisville's second win over a top-25 team this season following the Cardinals' 4-2 win over then-No. 25 Miami last Sunday.

#29 Louisville 5, #17 Duke 2
3/27/2022 at Durham, N.C. | (Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center)
Singles
1. #117 Etienne Donnet (LOU) def. #64 Garrett Johns (DU) 6-1, 7-5
2. Josh Howard-Tripp (LOU) def. Andrew Zhang (DU) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
3. Connor Krug (DU) def. Tin Chen (LOU) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Faris Khan (DU) def. Sergio Hernandez (LOU) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11)
5. Natan Rodrigues (LOU) def. Edu Guell (DU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. David Mizrahi (LOU) def. Andrew Dale (DU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles
1. Faris Khan/Niroop Vallabhaneni (DU) def. Etienne Donnet/Tin Chen (LOU) 6-3
2. Natan Rodrigues/Sergio Hernandez (LOU) def. Garrett Johns/Sean Sculley (DU) 7-5
3. Matthew Fung/Alex Wesbrooks (LOU) def. Andrew Dale/Arturo Kam (DU) 6-2

Match Notes:
Louisville 14-6; National ranking #29
Duke 13-5; National ranking #17
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,2,5,6,3,4)