Wednesday, May 22
Stillwater, Okla.
2:30 p.m.
University of Louisville
vs
Georgia
Photo by: Caleb Jones |University of Louisville Athletics
Doubles Tandem Wins; Advances to Quarterfinal
May 22, 2024 | Men's Tennis
Donnet, Rodrigues beat Georgia to advance to the NCAA Doubles Championship Quarterfinals
STILLWATER, Okla. – UofL men's tennis returns to the NCAA Doubles Championship Quarterfinals for the second consecutive year after #8 Etienne Donnet & Natan Rodrigues took down #22 Freddy Blaydes & Niels Ratiu of Georgia in the Round of 16 on Wednesday afternoon.
The Cardinals struggled to start the match, getting down to the 4-2 to the Bulldogs. UofL climbed back into it, tying it up 4-4 and then tying it up again at 5-5 on a break point to force extra games. Ultimately, the duo lost 7-5 in the first set.
Donnet & Rodrigues bounced back from the opener in dominating fashion, winning the first five games of the second set. The tandem surrendered one lone game before winning the second set 6-1 and forcing the third set.
In the Round of 16, the third set is a single 10-point tiebreaker. The Cards made quick work of the Bulldogs, building a strong early lead before finishing them with a score of 10-4.
UofL now plays the #1 doubles duo in the country, Duke's Garret Johns & Pedro Rodenas, on Thursday. The time of the match has yet to be determined.
The pairs met in ACC play on March 29 – the Blue Devils were victorious in a tight 7-5 match. At the time, Donnet & Rodrigues were ranked ninth while Johns & Rodenas were sixth in the country.
Results
#8 Etienne Donnet/Natan Rodrigues (UL) def. #22 Freddy Blaydes/Niels Ratiu (UGA) 5-7, 6-1, 10-4
The Cardinals struggled to start the match, getting down to the 4-2 to the Bulldogs. UofL climbed back into it, tying it up 4-4 and then tying it up again at 5-5 on a break point to force extra games. Ultimately, the duo lost 7-5 in the first set.
Donnet & Rodrigues bounced back from the opener in dominating fashion, winning the first five games of the second set. The tandem surrendered one lone game before winning the second set 6-1 and forcing the third set.
In the Round of 16, the third set is a single 10-point tiebreaker. The Cards made quick work of the Bulldogs, building a strong early lead before finishing them with a score of 10-4.
UofL now plays the #1 doubles duo in the country, Duke's Garret Johns & Pedro Rodenas, on Thursday. The time of the match has yet to be determined.
The pairs met in ACC play on March 29 – the Blue Devils were victorious in a tight 7-5 match. At the time, Donnet & Rodrigues were ranked ninth while Johns & Rodenas were sixth in the country.
Results
#8 Etienne Donnet/Natan Rodrigues (UL) def. #22 Freddy Blaydes/Niels Ratiu (UGA) 5-7, 6-1, 10-4
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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