Completed Event: Men's Tennis versus ATP Challenger 50 on November 2, 2025 ,
/
Final
Men's Tennis
vs ATP Challenger 50
Men’s Tennis Presents Team Awards
5/10/2023 3:32:00 PM | Men's Tennis
DURHAM – Duke freshman Pedro Rodenas and senior Andrew Zhang both were honored with team awards for their exceptional performances during the 2022-23 season.
Rodenas was selected the unanimous Charles Hamilton Hargrave Most Valuable Player, while Zhang earned the fifth annual Robert C. Taylor Leadership Award for the second consecutive season. The MVP accolade, which was presented for the seventh-straight season, is a joint award with the women's team.
Charles Hamilton Hargrave was one of the first men's team captains for Duke, lettering in 1927-28. His family wanted to keep his memory alive within the Blue Devil tennis program and endowed the MVP award in his name.
The Lucile and Clarence Dragert Charitable Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas enabled the leadership award in Robert C. Taylor's name. Taylor was a 1949 Duke graduate and member of the tennis program. Taylor was President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon as an undergraduate and received his degree from Duke Law School in 1952. Taylor, who went on to become a tax attorney and public servant in the Dallas area, received the Charles A. Duke Award in 2008 for his longstanding support and service to the school.
Rodenas, the 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-ACC selection, leads the Blue Devils with a 31-6 singles record and a 22-5 doubles mark. Playing mostly at the No. 2 singles position, Rodenas heads into the NCAA Super Regional with an unblemished 17-0 ledger in that spot and holds a team-best 26-2 dual-match record. In addition, the Madrid, Spain, product leads the team in match-clinching victories with six and holds a 7-3 ledger against nationally ranked opponents as well as an 11-1 ACC record. The lefty broke into the national rankings midway through the year and currently sits at No. 52.
In doubles action with senior Garrett Johns, the pair garnered First Team All-ACC recognition after ranking in the top-50 throughout most of the year, including a No. 25 ranking heading into the NCAA Super Regional. The duo played on Duke's top two courts, holding a winning record on both, including a 10-1 mark on court one. The twosome finished ACC play with a 7-0 ledger and went 3-0 against nationally ranked opponents, including victories over the No. 20 and No. 27 ranked duos.
"Pedro is clearly deserving of this prestigious award and I cannot say enough good things about him," Duke head coach Ramsey Smith said. "The players vote for this award, and this is the first time we have ever had a unanimous winner, which shows the respect Pedro has earned from his teammates. What Pedro had done this spring as a freshman is beyond impressive, and I couldn't be prouder of all the hard work he has put into his tennis and his mental game which has led to his success. The future is very bright for Pedro at the college and professional level."
Zhang has been a leader for the Blue Devils on and off the court the last two seasons. He is one of only three players this year with 20-plus overall singles wins and ranks No. 39 nationally in doubles action with teammate Michael Heller. He's played on courts two and three this season, holding a winning record on both, including a 6-3 ledger on court two. In addition, the Bloomfield Hills, Mich., native is third on the team in overall doubles victories with 15, including eight dual-match wins.
"Andrew has been our rock and leader for the past two seasons and his day in and day out consistency is his strongest quality," Smith said. "Andrew continues to grow as a leader of this program, and I am so proud of his development as a person, player, and leader over the past four years. Andrew is a selfless leader, and he has helped create a culture of collective team leadership which has been a huge reason for our success this season. Our program would not be where it is today without Andrew Zhang and his leadership."
The Blue Devils travel to Charlottesville, Va., for their super regional round matchup with fifth-seeded and fifth-ranked Virginia. That contest is set for Saturday at 1 p.m., at Virginia Tennis Facility at the Boar's Head Resort. The super regional winners advance to the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., where the eight teams will compete for the national championship, May 18-20. The event will be hosted by the University of Central Florida and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission at the USTA National Campus.
#GoDuke
Rodenas was selected the unanimous Charles Hamilton Hargrave Most Valuable Player, while Zhang earned the fifth annual Robert C. Taylor Leadership Award for the second consecutive season. The MVP accolade, which was presented for the seventh-straight season, is a joint award with the women's team.
Charles Hamilton Hargrave was one of the first men's team captains for Duke, lettering in 1927-28. His family wanted to keep his memory alive within the Blue Devil tennis program and endowed the MVP award in his name.
The Lucile and Clarence Dragert Charitable Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas enabled the leadership award in Robert C. Taylor's name. Taylor was a 1949 Duke graduate and member of the tennis program. Taylor was President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon as an undergraduate and received his degree from Duke Law School in 1952. Taylor, who went on to become a tax attorney and public servant in the Dallas area, received the Charles A. Duke Award in 2008 for his longstanding support and service to the school.
Rodenas, the 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-ACC selection, leads the Blue Devils with a 31-6 singles record and a 22-5 doubles mark. Playing mostly at the No. 2 singles position, Rodenas heads into the NCAA Super Regional with an unblemished 17-0 ledger in that spot and holds a team-best 26-2 dual-match record. In addition, the Madrid, Spain, product leads the team in match-clinching victories with six and holds a 7-3 ledger against nationally ranked opponents as well as an 11-1 ACC record. The lefty broke into the national rankings midway through the year and currently sits at No. 52.
In doubles action with senior Garrett Johns, the pair garnered First Team All-ACC recognition after ranking in the top-50 throughout most of the year, including a No. 25 ranking heading into the NCAA Super Regional. The duo played on Duke's top two courts, holding a winning record on both, including a 10-1 mark on court one. The twosome finished ACC play with a 7-0 ledger and went 3-0 against nationally ranked opponents, including victories over the No. 20 and No. 27 ranked duos.
"Pedro is clearly deserving of this prestigious award and I cannot say enough good things about him," Duke head coach Ramsey Smith said. "The players vote for this award, and this is the first time we have ever had a unanimous winner, which shows the respect Pedro has earned from his teammates. What Pedro had done this spring as a freshman is beyond impressive, and I couldn't be prouder of all the hard work he has put into his tennis and his mental game which has led to his success. The future is very bright for Pedro at the college and professional level."
Zhang has been a leader for the Blue Devils on and off the court the last two seasons. He is one of only three players this year with 20-plus overall singles wins and ranks No. 39 nationally in doubles action with teammate Michael Heller. He's played on courts two and three this season, holding a winning record on both, including a 6-3 ledger on court two. In addition, the Bloomfield Hills, Mich., native is third on the team in overall doubles victories with 15, including eight dual-match wins.
"Andrew has been our rock and leader for the past two seasons and his day in and day out consistency is his strongest quality," Smith said. "Andrew continues to grow as a leader of this program, and I am so proud of his development as a person, player, and leader over the past four years. Andrew is a selfless leader, and he has helped create a culture of collective team leadership which has been a huge reason for our success this season. Our program would not be where it is today without Andrew Zhang and his leadership."
The Blue Devils travel to Charlottesville, Va., for their super regional round matchup with fifth-seeded and fifth-ranked Virginia. That contest is set for Saturday at 1 p.m., at Virginia Tennis Facility at the Boar's Head Resort. The super regional winners advance to the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., where the eight teams will compete for the national championship, May 18-20. The event will be hosted by the University of Central Florida and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission at the USTA National Campus.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Coach Ramsey win vs NCState ACC Tourney 4/18/25
Friday, April 18
Coach Ramsey Win vs UND ACC Tournament 4/17/25
Thursday, April 17
Duke vs. Virginia: Coach Smith Post-Match Interview
Saturday, March 01
Duke Athletics: A Tour of Campus
Saturday, October 19
