Boilermakers Kick Off 4-Match Homestand

Match Information
Friday, March 14 | 5 p.m. ET
Purdue (8-3) vs. Illinois (8-4, 2-0 Big Ten)
Schwartz Tennis Center | West Lafayette, Ind.
 
Sunday, March 16 | 3 p.m. ET
Purdue (8-3) vs. Northwestern (8-8, 1-1 Big Ten)
Schwartz Tennis Center | West Lafayette, Ind.
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue men's tennis team (8-3) kicks off home Big Ten play against No. 20 Illinois (8-4) on Friday and Northwestern (8-8) on Sunday. The Boilermakers are set to take on Illinois at 5 pm on Friday and Northwestern at 3 pm on Sunday.
 
Team Highlights

• The Boilermakers kick off a four-match conference homestand taking on Illinois, Northwestern, Michigan, and Michigan State in the next two weekends. Three of those opponents are ranked within the ITA top 40.
• In non-conference play, Purdue had a 8-1 record which tied for the best start to the season since 2016.
• The Boilermakers look to capture their first wins against Illinois and Northwestern under head coach Geoff Young.

Juan David Velasquez

• Velasquez pushed his match against USC's No. 112 Nathan Trouve to three sets. After winning the first set 6-1, Trouve tied it in the second set 6-1. Trouve and Velasquez went point-for-point in the third set before Trouve pulled away to win it, 4-6.

Nour Fathalla

• The freshman picked up his first collegiate Big Ten win against USC's, Niels Hoffman, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(5). He improves to an 8-2 record this spring, including 3-0 at the No. 6 position.

Scouting Illinois

• Illinois came in at No. 20 in this week's ITA ranking and have two ranked singles players: No. 12 Kenta Miyoshi and No. 48 William Mroz.
• The Illini opened up Big Ten play 2-0 after beating Nebraska (4-1) and Wisconsin (7-0).

Scouting Northwestern

• Northwestern took down Wisconsin (5-2) and lost to Nebraska (2-5) in the first weekend of Big Ten play.
• The Wildcats are 0-4 on the road this season and 8-4 at home.