Thursday, April 10
LOUISVILLE, KY
3 p.m.
University of Louisville
4
vs
1
#44 Middle Tennessee
Photo by: Nicole Finch | Louisville Athletics
Cards Upset No. 44 Middle Tennessee
April 10, 2025 | Men's Tennis
Louisville rallied back to sweep singles competition after dropping the doubles point
LOUISVILLE, KY. - The University of Louisville men's tennis team defeated No. 44 Middle Tennessee State at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on Thursday night.
"Proud of how the guys handled the day," said head coach Rodrigo da Silva. "We had a rain delay and then lightning. Then we went from outdoors to indoors after losing doubles. But the guys stayed focused and played with great discipline to get the win. I hope we keep the momentum going against Notre Dame and Dayton."
Louisville 4, No. 44 Middle Tennessee State 1
Starting with doubles, Court 3 saw a 6-2 win from Miguel Avendaño and Will Mayew. With the win, the pair extended their win to four in a row.
Doubles play between the Cards and the Blue Raiders was competitive, as the point hinged on a tiebreaker on Court 1. Ultimately, MTSU's pair of No. 51 Karim Al-Amin and Ondrej Horak were able to win the point.
UofL had ground to make up in singles play starting with sophomore Piet Steveker who won on Court 6, going 6-1, 6-2 to score the first point of the day for the Cards.
On Court 2, No. 85 Mayew overcame his opponent, 6-4, 6-1, finishing second on the singles courts.
Louisville sophomore Kosuke Nakanishi played a three-set match on Court 4 in a comeback win, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.
To close out the match on Court 1, senior Natan Rodrigues clinched the win, 7-6, 6-4.
Louisville (10-17, 1-11 ACC) will continue playing at home for the final matches of the regular season in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 12th. The Cardinals will host senior day for Rodrigues before facing No. 60 Notre Dame at 1 p.m., followed by a match against Dayton at 5:30 p.m.
Louisville 4, #44 Middle Tennessee State University 1
Singles Competition
1. Natan Rodrigues (LOU) def. Karim Al-Amin (MTSU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
2. #85 Will Mayew (LOU) def. Ondrej Horak (MTSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Miguel Avendano (LOU) vs. Shu Matsuoka (MTSU) 5-7, 7-5, unfinished
4. Kosuke Nakanishi (LOU) def. Rostislav Halfinger (MTSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Hamza El Amine (LOU) vs. Ig Mandou Berranger (MTSU) 6-4, 5-5, unfinished
6. Piet Steveker (LOU) def. Kristian Thomas (MTSU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. #51 Karim Al-Amin/Ondrej Horak (MTSU) def. Kosuke Nakanishi/Andre Steinbach (LOU) 7-6 (7-1)
2. Ig Mandou Berranger/Shu Matsuoka (MTSU) def. #90 Hamza El Amine/Natan Rodrigues (LOU) 6-3
3. Miguel Avendano/Will Mayew (LOU) def. Rostislav Halfinger/Kristian Thomas (MTSU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee State University 12-11; National ranking #44
Louisville 10-17
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,2,4,1)
T-3:20
"Proud of how the guys handled the day," said head coach Rodrigo da Silva. "We had a rain delay and then lightning. Then we went from outdoors to indoors after losing doubles. But the guys stayed focused and played with great discipline to get the win. I hope we keep the momentum going against Notre Dame and Dayton."
Louisville 4, No. 44 Middle Tennessee State 1
Starting with doubles, Court 3 saw a 6-2 win from Miguel Avendaño and Will Mayew. With the win, the pair extended their win to four in a row.
Doubles play between the Cards and the Blue Raiders was competitive, as the point hinged on a tiebreaker on Court 1. Ultimately, MTSU's pair of No. 51 Karim Al-Amin and Ondrej Horak were able to win the point.
UofL had ground to make up in singles play starting with sophomore Piet Steveker who won on Court 6, going 6-1, 6-2 to score the first point of the day for the Cards.
On Court 2, No. 85 Mayew overcame his opponent, 6-4, 6-1, finishing second on the singles courts.
Louisville sophomore Kosuke Nakanishi played a three-set match on Court 4 in a comeback win, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.
To close out the match on Court 1, senior Natan Rodrigues clinched the win, 7-6, 6-4.
Louisville (10-17, 1-11 ACC) will continue playing at home for the final matches of the regular season in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 12th. The Cardinals will host senior day for Rodrigues before facing No. 60 Notre Dame at 1 p.m., followed by a match against Dayton at 5:30 p.m.
Louisville 4, #44 Middle Tennessee State University 1
Singles Competition
1. Natan Rodrigues (LOU) def. Karim Al-Amin (MTSU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
2. #85 Will Mayew (LOU) def. Ondrej Horak (MTSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Miguel Avendano (LOU) vs. Shu Matsuoka (MTSU) 5-7, 7-5, unfinished
4. Kosuke Nakanishi (LOU) def. Rostislav Halfinger (MTSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Hamza El Amine (LOU) vs. Ig Mandou Berranger (MTSU) 6-4, 5-5, unfinished
6. Piet Steveker (LOU) def. Kristian Thomas (MTSU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. #51 Karim Al-Amin/Ondrej Horak (MTSU) def. Kosuke Nakanishi/Andre Steinbach (LOU) 7-6 (7-1)
2. Ig Mandou Berranger/Shu Matsuoka (MTSU) def. #90 Hamza El Amine/Natan Rodrigues (LOU) 6-3
3. Miguel Avendano/Will Mayew (LOU) def. Rostislav Halfinger/Kristian Thomas (MTSU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee State University 12-11; National ranking #44
Louisville 10-17
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,2,4,1)
T-3:20
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3,1
#1 Singles Match
123
Karim Al-Amin / 0 [MTSU]
640
760
#2 Singles Match
12
Ondrej Horak / 0 [MTSU]
41
66
#3 Singles Match
123
Shu Matsuoka / 0 [MTSU]
75UF
57UF
#4 Singles Match
123
Rostislav Halfinger / 0 [MTSU]
621
266
#5 Singles Match
123
Ig Mandou Berranger / 0 [MTSU]
45UF
65UF
#6 Singles Match
12
Kristian Thomas / 0 [MTSU]
12
66
Order of Finish:
6,2,4,1
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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