Unable to stop a four-match losing streak, the Badgers (14-8, 4-7 Big Ten) lost their fifth consecutive match before heading into postseason play.Â
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"The Big Ten is a very tough league and if you don't capitalize on opportunities, teams will make you pay for it," said head coach Danny Westerman. "Our guys just need to be better in tough situations." Â
Wisconsin started off doubles play in a promising manner, as sophomores Josef Dodridge and Lamar Remy cruised to a 6-1 victory over Dominik Sochurek and Benjamin Ugarte at the No. 1 spot. Â
Unfortunately, Purdue picked up the pace and claimed victory at the No. 2 and 3 spots. Mateus Silva and Renan Hanayama defeated sophomore Darius Mackenzie and junior John Zordani, 6-4 at the No. 3 slot. The Boilermakers secured the doubles point after Gergely Madarasz and Ricky Medinilla defeated sophomore Chema Carranza and senior Jakhongir Jalalov, 7-5. Â
After failing to pick up the doubles point, UW couldn't get much going in singles play either. Dodridge fell to Madarasz, ranked No. 44 in the nation, 6-3, 6-1.Â
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Benjamin Ugarte, ranked No. 84 the ITA rankings, dispatched Remy, 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 2 spot. Purdue finished off Wisconsin and clinched the match after Medinilla took down Carranza, 6-2, 6-3.Â
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"Unfortunately, we let the doubles point slip away and we couldn't find away to extend the match," Westerman said. "They have a very good top three, and those spots won quickly before we could get points on the board."
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Mackenzie and Zordani took the opening set on courts 5 and 6 but their matches were ended early before either could secure the win.
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Despite a rougher second half of the season against tough conference competition, the Badgers look to regroup this week in practice before heading into the Big Ten tournament next weekend. Wisconsin is currently tied for eighth in conference standings with Nebraska.Â
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Results – Apr. 24
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MEN'S SINGLES:
2. #84 Benjamin Ugarte (PUR) def. Lamar Remy (UW), 6-2, 6-1 6. Lucas Dages (PUR) vs. John Zordani (UW), 4-6, 1-4, unfinished Â
MEN'S DOUBLES:
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Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,3)