Michigan
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Western Michigan
Wolverines Down Broncos in Dual-Match Opener
1/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 20, 2015
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
Score: Michigan 6, Western Michigan 1
Records: U-M (1-0), WMU (2-1)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 24 -- vs. Florida State - ITA Kick-Off (Austin, Texas), 2 p.m. CST
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's tennis team claimed the doubles point and won five of six singles matches en route to a 6-1 win over Western Michigan in its dual-match season opener on Tuesday evening (Jan. 20) at the Varsity Tennis Center.
The Wolverines began the dual match by claiming the doubles point, earning victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. After a quick 6-2 victory at the No. 2 spot by sophomores Kevin Wong and Tyler Gardiner over the tandem of Stephen Payne and Matt Hamilton, Michigan's top pairing of seniors Alex Petrone and Michael Zhu clinched the point with a 6-3 triumph. On deuce point in the final game of the set, Petrone hit a winning lob to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
Michigan took a 2-0 lead after freshman Carter Lin picked up his first collegiate singles victory, a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Jimmy Beckwith. Minutes later, freshman Runhao Hua increased the U-M lead to 3-0 with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Ruben Greiner. He was down 3-1 in the second set but won five of the last six games for the decisive victory.
Sophomore/freshman Alex Knight clinched the dual-match victory, defeating Andrew Cahn in the third singles position by a scores of 6-4, 7-6 (3). Knight held serve to force the tiebreaker, then dominated the final points of the match.
After the Wolverines clinched the victory, Petrone won his matchup, 7-6 (7), 6-3. In the close first set, he battled back from a 7-6 deficit in the tiebreaker but came back to win the final three points. In the final match off the court, Zhu defeated his opponent with an ace in the 10-point tiebreaker to give him the 6-7, 6-4, 10-8 victory.
The Wolverines return to action this weekend, traveling to Austin, Texas, to take part in the ITA Kickoff event. U-M will take on Florida State on 2 p.m. CST on Saturday (Jan. 24) before concluding its weekend slate against either host Texas or Minnesota.
The following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- Alex Petrone (U-M) def. Jefta Kecic (WMU), 7-6 (7), 6-3
No. 2 -- Michael Zhu (U-M) def. Maik Steiner (WMU), 6-7, 6-4, 10-8
No. 3 -- Alex Knight (U-M) def. Andrew Cahn (WMU), 6-4, 7-6 (3)
No. 4 -- Runhao Hua (U-M) def. Ruben Greiner (WMU), 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 -- Matt Hamilton (WMU) def. Kevin Wong (U-M), 6-4, 7-5
No. 6 -- Carter Lin (U-M) def. Jimmy Beckwith (WMU), 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
No. 1 -- Alex Petrone/Michael Zhu (U-M) def. Ruben Greiner/Maik Steiner (WMU), 6-3
No. 2 -- Kevin Wong/Tyler Gardiner (U-M) def. Stephen Payne/Matt Hamilton (WMU), 6-2
No. 3 -- Carter Lin/Runhao Hua (U-M) vs. Jimmy Beckwith/Jefta Kecic (WMU), 5-5 DNF
Order of Completion: Doubles 2-1, Singles 6-4-3-5-1-2
Communications Contact: Zach Eisendrath (734) 763-4423
