BURR RIDGE, Ill. – The University of Chicago men's tennis team went down to the wire but came up just short in a 4-3 loss to University of Illinois-Chicago on Saturday.
The No. 30-ranked Maroons dropped to 3-2 on the year while the Flames improved to 2-4.
UIC, which competes in NCAA Division I, narrowly earned the doubles point by winning No. 2 and No. 3 doubles by identical 8-6 scores. Junior Deepak Sabada and freshman Sven Kranz teamed up to win 8-7 at No. 1 doubles.
In singles play, the two teams split the six matches to give the Flames the victory. Sabada won his match at No. 2 singles in straight sets. Freshman Max Hawkins and sophomore Gordon Zhang both went to three sets and came out winners at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively.
"It was a fantastic match and our guys did a great job of competing," said Head Coach Jay Tee. "The score could not have been any closer, coming down to a third set at No. 4 singles and two 8-6 losses in doubles. We will need a great week of practice with two big matches coming up next weekend in Wisconsin."
Illinois-Chicago 4, UChicago 3
Singles
1. Alexander Raa (UIC) def. Sven Kranz (UC) 6-2, 6-3
2. Deepak Sabada (UC) def. Carl Hedstrom (UIC) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
3. Isaac Lloveras (UIC) def. Brian Sun (UC) 6-1, 6-4
4. Christopher Cole (UIC) def. Ankur Bhargava (UC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Max Hawkins (UC) def. Eric Pontow (UIC) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Gordon Zhang (UC) def. Nicolas Aguirre (UIC) 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-7)
Doubles
1. Deepak Sabada/Sven Kranz (UC) def. Carl Hedstrom/Maurizio Feoli (UIC) 8-7
2. Christopher Cole/Isaac Lloveras (UIC) def. Max Hawkins/Ankur Bhargava (UC) 8-6
3. Alexander Raa/Nate Campanile (UIC) def. Zsolt Szabo/Brian Sun (UC) 8-6
NEXT MATCH:
- Friday, Feb. 28 – UChicago vs. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (at Janesville, Wis.), 6 PM
