Blue Devils Begin Season with 7-0 Feat

Tuesday, January 10

Honolulu, Hawaii

3 p.m. (10 a.m. HT)

Duke University

Hawaii

Blue Devils Begin Season with 7-0 Feat

1/10/2023 7:21:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

HONOLULU, Hawai'i – No. 20 Duke recorded its first dual win of the 2023 season after it defeated Hawai'i, 7-0, at the UH Tennis Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

Since head coach Ramsey Smith took over in 2008-09, the Blue Devils are 13-2 in season openers.

Juniors Faris Khan and Niroop Vallabhaneni went 2-0 on the day with victories in both doubles and singles action against the Rainbow Warriors.

The pair helped Duke claim the doubles point by registering the day's first victory following a 6-1 triumph over Lucas Labrunie and Andy Hernandez on court three. The No. 49 doubles duo of Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang then bested Andre Ilagan and Karl Collins, 6-2, on the top court to hand the Blue Devils' the early 1-0 edge in the overall match. The final doubles match between Garrett Johns and Pedro Rodenas against Axel Labrunie and Kilian Maitre went unfinished with the contest knotted at 4-4.

Khan increased Duke's overall advantage to 2-0 after registering a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Maitre on court six to begin singles action.

Sophomore Connor Krug was the next Blue Devil finisher, claiming a 6-3, 6-0 win over Lucas Labrunie on court three.

Freshman No. 84 Rodenas then secured the match for Duke when he tallied a 6-3, 6-3 victory on court two over Axel Labrunie.

No. 4 Johns, Vallabhaneni and Jake Krug all added to Duke's final score with victories of their own. Johns bested No. 41 Ilagan 6-2, 7-5 on the top court before Vallabhaneni defeated Guillaume Tattevin on court four in tiebreak fashion at 6-2, 7-6 (3). Jake Krug closed things out by registering a 7-6 (9) win in the opening set and a 6-2 victory in the second.

The Blue Devils return home for three consecutive home matches, beginning with Memphis on Friday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. Duke then wraps up the weekend with a doubleheader against Harvard and N.C. Central at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, on Sunday, Jan. 22. All contests will be played at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center.

RESULTS
Doubles (3,1*)
1. #49 Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (DU) def. Andre Ilagan/Karl Collins (UH) 6-2
2. Axel Labrunie/Kilian Maitre (UH) vs. Garrett Johns/Pedro Rodenas (DU) 4-4, unfinished
3. Niroop Vallabhaneni/Faris Khan (DU) def. Lucas Labrunie/Andy Hernandez (UH) 6-1

Singles (6,3,2*,1,4,5)
1. #4 Garrett Johns (DU) def. #41 Andre Ilagan (UH) 6-2, 7-5
2. #84 Pedro Rodenas (DU) def. Axel Labrunie (UH) 6-3, 6-3
3. Connor Krug (DU) def. Lucas Labrunie (UH) 6-3, 6-0
4. Niroop Vallabhaneni (DU) def. Guillaume Tattevin (UH) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Jake Krug (DU) def. Andy Hernandez (UH) 7-6 (11-9), 6-2
6. Faris Khan (DU) def. Kilian Maitre (UH) 6-1, 6-1

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