Ohio State
#20 Michigan
No. 3 Buckeyes Comeback for Huge 4-3 Win at No. 20 Michigan
3/28/2025 10:16:00 PM | Men's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 3 Ohio State dug itself a hole but rallied for a huge 4-3 victory on the road over No. 20 Michigan on Friday night in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The win, which was the eighth consecutive against the Wolverines, lifts the Buckeyes to 17-2 on the season and keeps them in the top spot in the conference at 6-0.
After winning the doubles point, Michigan would win the first singles match to take a 2-0 lead. The Buckeyes dropped four of the six first sets in singles but had a remarkable rally to comeback and break the Wolverines’ hearts.
Fittingly, the final point was decided on court one. Alexander Bernard and Gavin Young battled back-and-forth and had numerous deuce points in the final set. Bernard would win on a ridiculous cross-court passing shot, capping a tremendous match with tremendous shot.
Doubles
- The Buckeyes dropped the doubles point for the first time in the last in the last eight matches.
- The Wolverines got wins on courts one and three to take the point.
- The lone Buckeye win came from the freshman duo of Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin, who have been on a roll. They have now won 11 consecutive matches as they beat the No. 85 team of Patorn Hanchaikul and Benjamin Kittay 6-2.
Singles
- Michigan used the momentum from doubles to build early leads in singles.
- After a win on court five for the Wolverines, Jack Anthrop got the Buckeyes on the board with 6-3, 6-4 win over Hanchaikul on court four. Anthrop is now unbeaten in his last 10 matches.
- Will Jansen then pulled the Buckeyes even with his 7-5, 6-4 win over Kittay on court three.
- Brandon Carpico dropped his opening set to Nicholas Steiglehner 6-2. He then bowed up and pulled out a 7-5 win in the second set. That seemed big as it helped give the Buckeyes some momentum in a match that Michigan controlled early. In the third Carpico grabbed an early break and rolled to a 6-2 victory to give the Buckeyes a 3-2 lead.
- Aidan Kim also lost the first set to Will Cooksey on court two but rallied to win the second set 6-B4. Cooksey broke early to take a lead in the third set, but Kim got back on serve at 2-3. Cooksey then broke again and would hold on for a 6-3 to even the match at 3-3
- Alexander Bernard lost the first set 6-3 to Gavin Young on court one but came back to win the second set 6-4. In the third, he broke to go up 4-2 but then Young broke back to get to 4-3. Bernard held on a big deuce point to go up 5-4 and led 30-0 in the next game. Young then came back to hold on a deuce point of his own. Bernard once again held for 6-5 and then hit a tremendous cross-court winner to take the match 7-5 and set off a Buckeye celebration.
Up Next
The Buckeyes will remain in Michigan to take on the Spartans on Sunday afternoon. First serve is set for 2 p.m. following the MSU women’s match.
Ohio State 4, Michigan 3
Singles
1. #52 Alexander Bernard (OSU) def. #85 Gavin Young (UM) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
2. Will Cooksey (UM) def. #13 Aidan Kim (OSU) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-3
3. Will Jansen (OSU) def. #64 Benjamin Kittay (UM) 7-5, 6-4
4. #77 Jack Anthrop (OSU) def. Patorn Hanchaikul (UM) 6-3, 6-4
5. Bjorn Swenson (UM) def. Preston Stearns (OSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Brandon Carpico (OSU) def. Nicholas Steiglehner (UM) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
Doubles
1. Bjorn Swenson/Gavin Young (UM) def. Aidan Kim/Will Jansen (OSU) 6-4
2. Nikita Filin/Brandon Carpico (OSU) def. #85 Patorn Hanchaikul/Benjamin Kittay (UM) 6-2
3. Will Cooksey/Alex Cairo (UM) def. Bryce Nakashima/Alex Fuchs (OSU) 7-5
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (12,3); Singles (5,4,3,6,2,1)
T-3:35
#GoBucks
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
5,4,3,6,2,1
