Michigan
Harvard
Michigan Takes Down Undefeated Harvard
2/10/2018 4:04:00 PM | Men's Tennis
» Carter Lin remained undefeated in singles play at No. 5.
» Michigan earned the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 3.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
Score: #13 Michigan 4, Harvard 0
Records: U-M (4-2), Harvard (6-1)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 11 -- vs. #23 California (Varsity Tennis Center), noon
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan men's tennis team took down previously undefeated Harvard by a score of 4-0 at the Varsity Tennis Center on Saturday (Feb. 10).
Michigan earned the doubles point with victories at Nos. 1 and 3 following a series of hotly contested matches. The ninth-ranked duo of seniors Alex Knight and Runhao Hua earned a 6-3 victory at No. 1 to start. With U-M leading, 3-2, Knight seized momentum with a spectacular backhand lob that clipped the line for a 4-2 advantage. The teams exchanged games and Harvard fought off two match points before finally succumbing.
The duo of twin brothers Kristofer Siimar and junior Mattias Siimar sealed the victory at No. 3 with neither side winning consecutive games until the Wolverines' won to break a 5-5 deadlock. With U-M leading, 5-4, Harvard fought off a match point to claim the 10th game, but U-M was undeterred, sparked by the victory at No. 1 moments before as Johnston and Schalet closed out the doubles point.
The doubles point propelled Michigan into singles play where the Wolverines took commanding wins on courts 2, 4, 5 and 6.
Hua set the tone with a powerful serve throughout his No. 2 match against Jean Thirouin. Hua sealed the Wolverines' victory with a service ace to finish his 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Michigan also got wins from Carter Lin, who remains undefeated on the year, at No. 5 singles (6-3, 6-4) and Schalet, who earned his win at No. 4 singles with scores of 6-3, 6-4.
Michigan will continue at home on Sunday when it hosts California at the Varsity Tennis Center in a noon start.
Following are match-by-match results:
Singles
No. 1 -- #3 Alex Knight (U-M) v. Kenny Tao (Harvard), 3-6, 5-4 unfinished
No. 2 -- #42 Runhao Hua (U-M) d. Andy Zhou (Harvard), 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 -- Mattias Siimar (U-M) v. Robert Wrzesinski (Harvard), 5-7, 3-3 unfinished
No. 4 -- #113 Myles Schalet (U-M) d. Grant Solomon (Harvard), 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 -- Carter Lin (U-M) d. Andrew Ball (Harvard), 6-2, 6-3
No. 6 -- Davis Crocker (U-M) v. Constantin Zoske (Harvard), 6-3, 3-6 unfinished
Doubles
No. 1 -- #9 Alex Knight/ Runhao Hua (U-M) d. Kenny Tao/ Logan Weber (Harvard), 6-3
No. 2 -- Myles Schalet/ Connor Johnston (U-M) d. Jean Thirouin/ Andy Zhou (Harvard), 5-5 unfinished
No. 3 -- Mattias Siimar/Kristofer Siimar (U-M) d. Grant Solomon/ Christopher Morrow (Harvard), 7-5
Order of Completion: Doubles 1-3, Singles 5-4-2
Players Mentioned
