Elon Men’s Tennis Drops Season Opener at #5 Duke

DURHAM, N.C. – The Elon University men’s tennis team opened its 2013 spring slated today, Jan. 19, against fifth-ranked Duke, as the Phoenix dropped a 9-0 decision to the nationally ranked Blue Devils inside the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center. The two squads played eight singles matches in addition to the typical three-match doubles format.

The match of the day was a rematch from ITA Carolina Regional in Cary, N.C., from this past October, featuring Elon’s 21st-ranked Cameron Silverman and Duke’s 11th-ranked Henrique Cunha. Silverman won the last meeting between the two standouts, but fell to Cunha on his home court today, dropping a 6-2, 6-3 decision. Silverman topped Cunha in October when Cunha was ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Stefan Fortmann, ranked 117th in the nation, was the lone Elon player to win a set versus the Blue Devils today, going three sets with 23rd-ranked Fred Saba. After winning the first set, 6-4, Fortmann dropped the next two, 6-4, 5-3.

Jordan Kaufman battled tough with Duke’s 123rd-ranked Jason Tahir, but fell in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

The doubles tandem of Juan Madrid and Robert Lindgren battled tough versus Duke’s 37th-ranked team of Fred Saba and Chris Mengel, but suffered an 8-5 setback.

Silverman and Fortmann, ranked 22nd in the nation as a doubles team, dropped an 8-2 decision to Cunha and Raphael Hemmeler. Cunha and Hemmeler are the top-ranked doubles team in the nation.

The Phoenix returns to action on Jan. 30 in Buies Creek, N.C., when it takes on Campbell.