Ohio State
#9 Wake Forest
No. 1 Buckeyes Comeback to Top No. 9 Wake Forest 4-3
2/9/2023 9:48:44 PM | Men's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After opening the season perfect at home, No. 1 Ohio State registered its first road win on Friday night, coming back to beat No. 9 Wake Forest 4-3 in Winston-Salem.
The Buckeyes remain perfect on the year at 10-0 while handing Wake Forest its first loss of the season (10-1).
The Buckeyes lost the doubles point for the first time this season, falling 6-4 on courts 1 and 2. But they got three wins from its seniors to take a 3-2 lead and then Justin Boulais followed with a three-set win to clinch the team victory.
Ohio State has now beaten Wake Forest in 11 of the last 12 meetings between the two teams.
Doubles
- The Wake Forest duo of Juan Lopez and Filippo Moroni got the first break of the match at 4-4 to take a 5-4 lead and held for the 6-4 victory over Andrew Lutschaunig and James Trotter.
- Robert Cash and Boulais dropped their first match of the season as they fell 6-4.
- JJ Tracy and Jack Anthrop were down a break 5-3 but had just played a nice point to even the game at 30-30 as they were looking to break back when the point was clinched.
Singles
- Wake Forest took a quick 2-0 lead with a straight set win on court three.
- On court six, senior Andrew Lutschaunig raced to a 6-2 win in set one and then beat Juan Lopez 7-5 in the second set to get the Buckeyes on the board. That was Lutschaunig’s fifth win on the young season.
- On court four, senior James Trotter got the first break at 5-4 to win the first set 6-3. Like Lutschaunig, he won the second set 7-5 over Luciano Tacchi to even the score at 2-2.
- Fellow senior Robert Cash responded after dropping his first doubles match this year with a solid 6-4, 7-6(3) victory on court five.
- With the score tied 3-3, Justin Boulais provided the clinching point. He and Filippo Moroni split the first two sets and then Boulais battled for a 6-3 win in the third to clinch the match.
- JJ Tracy closed out the match as he lost on court one to Melios Efstathiou 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
Up Next
- Ohio State heads north to take on previous No. 1 and now No. 5 Virginia on Saturday afternoon. First serve is set for noon.
#1 Ohio State 4, #9 Wake Forest 3
Singles
1. Melios Efstathiou (WFU) def. #9 JJ Tracy (OSU) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
2. Justin Boulais (OSU) def. Filippo Moroni (WFU) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
3. Jurabek Karimov (WFU) def. #41 Alexander Bernard (OSU) 6-1, 6-1
4. #28 James Trotter (OSU) def. Luciano Tacchi (WFU) 6-4, 7-5
5. #75 Robert Cash (OSU) def. Matthew Thomson (WFU) 6-4, 7-6(3)
6. Andrew Lutschaunig (OSU) def. Juan Lopez (WFU) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles
1. Juan Lopez/Filippo Moroni (WFU) def. #25 Andrew Lutschaunig/James Trotter (OSU) 6-4
2. Jurabek Karimov/Luciano Tacchi (WFU) def. Robert Cash/Justin Boulais (OSU) 6-4
3. Jack Anthrop/JJ Tracy (OSU) vs. Matthew Thomson/Melios Efstathiou (WFU) 3-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
Ohio State 10-0; National ranking #1
Wake Forest 10-1: National ranking #9
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,6,4,5,2,1)
#GoBucks
