MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men's tennis team earned their sixth win of the season Thursday night during a mid-week matchup against in-state rival Marquette. The Badgers (6-4) defeated the Golden Eagles (0-9) 7-0.
From the beginning, the Badgers were in the driver's seat. Jared Pratt and Mihailo Popovic paired up for the first time this season at No. 3 doubles and proved that they play well together. The duo got the first doubles win for Wisconsin with a quick 6-3 victory over Marquette's Will Tennison and Thomas Nelson.
At No. 2 doubles, Sebastian Vile and Robin Parts worked their way to clinch the doubles point. Behind a couple of aces from Vile, the pair took their match over Tin Krstulovic and Blake Roegner by a score of 6-2.
Every Badger player was up in their respective matches to start the singles competition. Freshman Michael Minasyan made quick work of his match, dominating Ian Brady at No. 5 singles in a 6-1, 6-1 win. His deuce-point victory put the Badgers up 2-0 to start singles play.
Just minutes later, Parts put an end to his match against Guilherme Da Matta at No. 6 singles. The senior extended the Badger lead to 3-0 after a swift 6-1, 6-4 win.
Gabriel Huber clinched the match for Wisconsin at No. 4 singles. After taking the first set 6-4, he swept the second 6-0 to get that coveted fourth point.
Playing out the rest of the matches, Pratt was the next Badger to strike. All he needed was one final serve to finish it off as an ace gave him a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 1 singles, snapping a four-match losing streak for the grad student.
Up 5-0, Vile came in clutch at No. 3 singles. With the fifth two-set win of the match, Vile put the Badgers one point closer to a sweep. He took down Marquette's Blake Roegner 6-4, 6-3.
Last but not least, Popovic ended the match with an exciting third-set 10-point tiebreaker to decide the last point. After winning the first set 6-3, he dropped the second in a tight 7-6 (7-5) tiebreaker. With the sweep on the line, Popovic pulled through in the third set, taking an early lead and ultimately winning the tiebreaker 10-7.
Up Next: The Badgers hit the road for a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Drake Bulldogs at 12 p.m. in Des Moines, Iowa
#49 Wisconsin 7, Marquette 0
Singles Results
1. Jared Pratt (WIS) def. Tin Krstulovic (MU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Mihailo Popovic (WIS) def. Rami Scheetz (MU) 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-7)
3. Sebastian Vile (WIS) def. Blake Roegner (MU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Gabriel Huber (WIS) def. Thomas Nelson (MU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Michael Minasyan (WIS) def. Ian Brady (MU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Robin Parts (WIS) def. Guilherme Da Matta (MU) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. #28 Gabriel Huber/Michael Minasyan (WIS) vs. Ian Brady/Rami Scheetz (MU) 4-4 (unfinished)
2. Robin Parts/Sebastian Vile (WIS) def. Tin Krstulovic/Blake Roegner (MU) 6-2
3. Jared Pratt/Mihailo Popovic (WIS) def. Will Tennison/Thomas Nelson (MU) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 2); Singles (5, 6, 4, 1, 3, 2)
