Duke Sweeps Middle Tennessee State in First Round of NCAA Championship

Saturday, May 3

Knoxville, Tenn.

10:00 AM

Duke University

Middle Tennessee

Duke Sweeps Middle Tennessee State in First Round of NCAA Championship

5/3/2025 1:22:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 17th-ranked Duke men's tennis team swept No. 46 Middle Tennessee, 4-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Championship Saturday at Barksdale Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. Freshman Saahith Jayaraman secured the final point with a straight-set victory on court six to clinch the sweep for the Blue Devils.

Duke improves to 19-8 on the season, while the Blue Raiders fall to 16-12.

The Blue Devils will advance to the second round of the NCAA Championship, where they will face either the regional host 14th-seeded Tennessee or Alabama State Sunday at 1 p.m.

How It Happened

Duke took the 1-0 lead, capturing the doubles point with victories on courts one and three.
On court one, the seventh-ranked Duke duo of sophomore Cooper Williams and graduate Theo Winegar only dropped one game, clinching the 6-1 win over Middle Tennessee's 63rd-ranked duo of Karim Al-Amin and Ondrej Horak.
At the third position, the Blue Devils secured the doubles point, as No. 90 junior Gerard Planelles Ripoll and graduate Remy Dugardin defeated Kacper Szymkowiak and Shu Matsuoka. The Duke duo pulled away from a 3-3 tie, winning three of the next four games to clinch the 6-4 triumph.
At the second spot, junior Pedro Rodenas and graduate Andreja Petrovic were leading 5-4 against Rostislav Halfinger and Jakub Kroslak before the match was abandoned.
Duke pushed to a 2-0 lead, as Petrovic defeated Kroslak in straight sets on court three. Petrovic earned set one, 6-2, as he pushed past a 2-2 tie by winning four consecutive games. In set two, Kroslak was up 1-0 before Petrovic went on a five-game run to take the 5-1 lead. Kroslak earned one more game before Petrovic clinched his match with a 6-2 victory.
The Blue Devils extended their lead to 3-0 as Dugardin earned a straight set win against Matsuoka on court four. In set one, Dugardin posted a 6-3 victory after winning three straight games to rally past a 3-3 tie. Dugardin followed suit in the second set, posting a 6-3 triumph where he once again rallied past a 3-3 tie by earning three straight games.
Duke rounded out the 4-0 sweep, as Jayaraman defeated Kristian Thomas on court six in two sets. Jayaraman jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in set one before Thomas evened the score, 3-3. Jayaraman rallied past the tie by winning three straight games. In set two, Jayaraman posted a 6-2 victory, after he won four straight games to push past from a 2-2 tie.
Rodenas', Williams' and senior Connor Krug's matches remained unfinished.

Quotes

"I am very pleased with this first round win over a solid Middle Tennessee State team. It was a great first test for us and the guys stepped up. The team is hungry and peaking at the right time. I am excited for our opportunity tomorrow." – Head Coach Ramsey Smith

Up Next

Duke will advance to the second round of the NCAA Championship Sunday at 1 p.m. and will face the winner of the 14th-seeded Tennessee versus Alabama State match. Live streaming will be available via NCAA.com and UTSports.com.

Results
Doubles (1, 3)

#7 Cooper Williams/ Theo Winegar (DU) def. #63 Karim Al-Amin/ Ondrej Horak (MTSU) 6-1
#62 Andreja Petrovic/ Pedro Rodenas (DU) vs. Rostislav Halfinger/ Jakub Kroslak (MTSU) 5-4, unfinished
# 90 Gerard Planelles Ripoll/ Remy Dugardin (DU) def. Kacper Szymkowiak/ Shu Matsuoka (MTSU) 6-4