April 19, 2013
EVANSTON, Ill. - The No. 61 Purdue men's tennis team's rally came up short on Friday at No. 34 Northwestern. The Boilermakers fell, 5-2.
Purdue (16-10, 3-7 B1G) started the afternoon by taking the doubles point. The Boilers won at No. 3 as Pawel Poziomski and Mark Kovacs defeated Sidarth Balaji and Chris Jackman, 8-6. Szymon Tatarczyk and Krisztian Krocsko clinched the point as the duo defeated the No. 79 pair in the nation, Spencer Wolf and Alex Pasareanu, 9-8 (5) at the top spot. This is just the second time this season that the Boilermakers have lost after winning the doubles point.
Northwestern (19-8, 5-5) controlled singles. Balaji evened the score at one with a win over Diego Acosta, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 3. Next was Mihir Kumar as he held off Krocsko at No. 4, 7-6 (5), 6-2. Wolf brought the Wildcats within a point of victory with a win at No. 1. He beat Tatarczyk, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
The Boilermakers clawed back with a win at No. 2. Kovacs rallied to beat the No. 83 singles player in the country, Raleigh Smith, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Purdue had chances in the remaining matches, but lost three-setters at Nos. 5 and 6. Pasareanu beat Mateus Silva at No. 5, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Jackman wrapped up the match with a win at No. 6 over Evan Hawkins. He won, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3.
The Boilermakers return home for the final conference match of the season. They are scheduled to face No. 31 Illinois on Sunday at noon ET at the Schwartz Tennis Center.
#34 Northwestern 5, #61 Purdue 2
Doubles
1. Szymon Tatarczyk/Krisztian Krocsko (PU) def. #79 Spencer Wolf/Alex Pasareanu (NU) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Raleigh Smith/Mihir Kumar (NU) led Aaron Dujovne/Diego Acosta (PU) 8-7 (unfinished)
3. Pawel Poziomski/Mark Kovacs (PU) def. Sidarth Balaji/Chris Jackman (NU) 8-6
Order of finish: 3, 1*
Singles
1. Spencer Wolf (NU) def. Szymon Tatarczyk (PU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
2. Mark Kovacs (PU) def. #83 Raleigh Smith (NU) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Sidarth Balaji (NU) def. Diego Acosta (PU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Mihir Kumar (NU) def. Krisztian Krocsko (PU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
5. Alex Pasareanu (NU) def. Mateus Silva (PU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
6. Chris Jackman (NU) def. Evan Hawkins (PU) 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 4, 1, 2, 5*, 6