MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men's tennis team (1-8, 0-0 Big Ten) defeated Butler (3-10, 0-0 Big East), 5-2, in its first match of the weekend, Friday, Feb. 23. With the return of Gabriel Huber and Mihailo Popovic, the Badgers played a strong match against the Bulldogs and claimed their first win of the season.
At No. 3 doubles, Mihailo Popovic played alongside Collin Beduhn to take on Patrick Joss and Nicholas Shirley. Despite not having played together this season, the pair was dominant and took a 6-3 victory. Unfortunately, Oliver Olsson and Tomas Zlatohlavek lost 6-4 to Borja Miralles and Nicholas Arts at No. 2 doubles and Matthew Fullerton and Michael Minasyan lost to Alvaro Huete Vadillo and Rahulniket Konakanchi, 6-3 ultimately giving the doubles point to Butler.
Down 1-0, the Badgers responded quickly in singles. Every Wisconsin plyer won the first set, and five of six players won in straight sets. Collin Beduhn struck first for the Badgers, winning a fast 6-2, 6-2 match against Nicholas Balthazor at No. 5 singles. Oliver Olsson struck next, defeating Borja Miralles 6-4, 6-4 at No. 6 doubles and taking a 2-1 lead over the Bulldogs.
Tomas Zlatohlavek grabbed his first win at No. 2 singles, emerging victorious against Butler's Patrick Joss, 6-4, 6-2. Michael Minasyan followed soon after in the No. 1 match, beating Alvaro Huete Vadillo 6-4, 6-2.
Wisconsin's final singles win of the night came from Gabriel Huber who was playing his first match of the 2024 season. In a much anticipated return, Huber played an electric match against Rahulniket Konakanchi and took the win 6-2, 7-5. The final match of the day was down to Matthew Fullerton and Nicholas Arts in the No. 3 singles match, and after an early lead, the Edina, Minn. native lost in a set three tiebreak, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (14-12).
Up Next: Wisconsin returns to Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 25 to take on No. 32 Denver. First serve will be at 10:30 a.m.
University of Wisconsin 5, Butler University 2
Singles Results
1. Michael Minasyan (WIS) def. Alvaro Huete Vadillo (BUT) 6-4, 6-2
2. Tomas Zlatohlavek (WIS) Patrick Joss (BUT) 6-4, 6-3
3. Nicholas Arts (BUT) def. Matthew Fullerton (WIS) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (14-12)
4. Gabriel Huber (WIS) Rahulniket Konakanchi (BUT) 6-2, 7-5
5. Collin Beduhn (WIS) def. Nicholas Balthazor (BUT) 6-2, 6-2
6. Oliver Olsson (WIS) Borja Miralles (BUT) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. Alvaro Huete Vadillo/Rahulniket Konakanchi (BUT) def. Matthew Fullerton/Michael Minasyan (WIS) 6-3
2. Borja Miralles/Nicholas Arts (BUT) def. Oliver Olsson/Tomas Zlatohlavek (WIS) 6-4
3. Mihailo Popovic/Collin Beduhn (WIS) def. Patrick Joss/Nicholas Shirley (BUT) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,2,1,4,3)
