Duke Defeats Liberty; Advances to ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship Match

Saturday, January 29

Columbia, S.C.

2 p.m.

Duke University

Liberty

Garrett Johns eyes up the ball during Duke's match with Elon

Duke Defeats Liberty; Advances to ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship Match

1/29/2022 6:14:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Duke recorded a 4-1 victory over Liberty at the Carolina Indoor Tennis Center on Saturday to advance to the ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship Match.

The Blue Devils will next face No. 13 and host South Carolina on Sunday at 2 p.m. Fans will be required to wear masks while inside the building in accordance with the University of South Carolina's policy.

During Saturday's match with the Flames, the Blue Devils quickly claimed the doubles point to register the early 1-0 lead. The No. 37 doubles pair of Garrett Johns and Sean Sculley bested Deji Thomas-Smith and Christiaan Worst, 6-2, on court one. A few minutes later, No. 39 Michael Heller and Andrew Zhang defeated Rafael Marques Da Silva and Nicaise Muamba on court two, 6-3. Doubles action with Duke's Faris Khan and Niroop Vallabhaneni against Liberty's Goncalo Ferreira and Josh Wilson went unfinished, with the Flames leading 5-4.

No. 76 Johns increased Duke's advantage to kick off singles action after beating Muamba 6-2, 6-1 on the top court. The Flame would not go away, cutting the lead in half following Worst's victory over Connor Krug. The pair battled on court four with Worst earning 6-2, 6-2 victories.

No. 38 Khan was the next to finish and his win over Da Silva handed the Blue Devils a 3-1 edge. Khan claimed a thrilling 7-5 victory in the opening set before besting Da Silva 6-2 in the second. Sophomore Andrew Dale then secured the overall match for Duke after he defeated Thomas-Smith in two sets, 6-3 and 7-5.

Playing to clinch, the singles matches on two and six went unfinished. Zhang's match with Wilson on court two was tied after each claimed a 6-4 victory, while Vallabhaneni led his match with Thando Longwe-Smit on court six, 6-3, 5-4 before it was halted.

RESULTS
Doubles (1,2*)
1. #37 Garrett Johns/Sean Sculley (Duke) def. Deji Thomas-Smith/Christiaan Worst (Liberty) 6-2
2. #39 Michael Heller/Andrew Zhang (Duke) def. Rafael Marques Da Silva/Nicaise Muamba (Liberty) 6-3
3. Goncalo Ferreira/Josh Wilson (Liberty) vs. Faris Khan/Niroop Vallabhaneni (Duke) 5-4, unfinished

Singles (1,4,3,5*)
1. No. 76 Garrett Johns (Duke) def. Nicaise Muamba (Liberty) 6-2, 6-1
2. Andrew Zhang (Duke) vs. Josh Wilson (Liberty) 6-4, 4-6, 0-0, unfinished
3. No. 38 Faris Khan (Duke) def. Rafael Marques Da Silva (Liberty) 7-5, 6-2
4. Christiaan Worst (Liberty) def. Connor Krug (Duke) 6-2, 6-2
5. Andrew Dale (Duke) def. Deji Thomas-Smith 6-3, 7-5
6. Niroop Vallabhaneni (Duke) vs. Thando Longwe-Smit (Liberty) 6-3, 5-4, unfinished

#GoDuke