DURHAM, N.C. – Elon University men’s tennis took an early advantage winning the doubles point and led 3-2 late in singles play, but fell in a tough 4-3 battle at Duke on Saturday night, Jan. 12, at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.
Camilo Ponce was the highlight of the match for Elon (0-1) as he picked up a win at No. 5 singles and earned a victory at No. 3 doubles, which helped the Phoenix secure a 1-0 lead in the match.
“We lost a tough one today,” said head coach Michael Leonard. “Hopefully our guys will learn from this match and it will motivate them to work that much harder throughout the rest of the season.”
HIGHLIGHTS
The Phoenix took the early 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point. No. 3 duo of Kyle Frankel and Ponce cruised to a 6-1 victory to put Elon ahead. After Duke was able to tie up the doubles point on court two, Felipe Sarrasague and Taylor Foote won at the No. 1 position 6-4 to clinch the lead for the Phoenix.
At the start of singles play, Elon extended its lead 2-0 after Felipe Osses-Konig defeated Jason Lapidus 6-2, 6-1 on court five. Duke battled back to earn victories on courts three and two to level the match at 2-2, but Ponce earned a 6-3, 6-2 win over Samir Agadi at the No. 6 position to give Elon a 3-2 lead in the match.
After Catalin Mateas leveled the score a 3-3 overall with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Frankel on court four, Nick Stachowiak would need come back and force a third set to defeat Sarrasague at No. 1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, which clinched the match for the Blue Devils.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix returns to the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center on Monday, Jan. 21, to host its home-opening doubleheader against Appalachian State at 9 a.m. and North Carolina A&T at 3 p.m.