Despite No. 9 Duke (10-2) looking good after winning the first doubles match against No. 1 Virginia (4-0), its lead was brief as the top-ranked Cavaliers went on to take a 4-0 victory in the semifinals of the ITA National Team Indoors.
The tandem of freshman Michael Redlicki and sophomore Jason Tahir recorded the first win of the night at the No. 2 spot against Virginia’s Justin Shane and Julen Urlguen by a score of 8-3. Shane and Urglen rank No. 15 nationally while Redlicki and Tahir check in at No. 18.
The Blue Devils were unable to capture the doubles point, however, as No. 2 Henrique Cunha and Raphael Hemmeler proceeded to drop their match, as did No. 33 Chris Mengel and Fred Saba.
The loss for Cunha and Hemmeler snapped a streak of 16 consecutive victories.
Cunha, who has been fighting injuries, was unable to compete in singles, bumping Redlicki up to play at the No. 2 spot behind senior Fred Saba at the No. 1 position. The 6-foot-7 freshman was defeated 6-3, 6-1 by Virginia’s Alex Domijan, who currently ranks No. 1 in the nation. Redlicki’s classmate Bruno Semenzato was able to take his competition with Cavalier Justin Shane to three sets but ultimately dropped the match 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 at the six position.
Virginia’s Jarmere Jenkins took down Saba in three sets, and once those three matches were finished, play on the other three courts was cut short as the Cavaliers had already clinched the match.
The Blue Devils have a few weeks off before they return to the court Tuesday, March 5 when they take on Virginia Commonwealth.
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