ASU Men’s Tennis: Sun Devils split Big-10 weekend road trip

Photo: Alex Roddier/WCSN

(Photo: Alex Roddier/WCSN)

Arizona State traveled to the Midwest this weekend to face a couple of Big-10 programs. It snapped a four-match road losing streak after a tough loss on Friday against No. 2 Ohio State with a win on Sunday over Indiana.

The Sun Devils (3-4 in non-conference) found some relief this past weekend after a 4-2 win over the Hoosiers in Bloomington. The victory came after a humbling 4-0 defeat to the No. 2 Buckeyes (the final score reflected 6-1 because both schools decided to play out the final two singles matches.)

ASU lost the doubles point against Ohio State, marking the first time the team didn’t gain the advantage through six matches this season. However, it but bounced back on Sunday winning two of the three doubles matches to take the point over the Hoosiers.

In 2018, the Buckeyes defeated ASU 4-2 in Los Angeles on a neutral court. ASU was able to secure the doubles point against them in that match, but failed to do so on Friday.

The doubles pairings have been a crucial component for ASU’s team in 2019. The team has secured six of seven doubles points, giving the Sun Devils early momentum in matches. The Sun Devils’ success in doubles play illustrates a pivotal difference from last season in which they struggled often to clinch the elusive point.

While it seemed there weren’t many highlights for ASU in Friday’s loss, graduate transfer Justin Roberts was able to earn an impressive solo victory defeating No. 12 redshirt junior Kyle Seelig in a 7-6, 0-6, 1-0 (10-8) victory.

Roberts had two wins in singles play prior to the matchup with Seelig. He was battling in a third set against Indiana’s junior Zac Brodney on Sunday when sophomore Makey Rakotomalala clinched the victory for ASU, forcing Roberts and Brodney to leave their match unfinished with Roberts ahead 7-5, 4-6, 5-4.

After a loss to the Buckeyes on Friday, the Sun Devils traveled approximately 225 miles to the Indiana University Tennis Center in Bloomington for Sunday’s bout.

ASU rebounded on Sunday and secured the doubles point in dramatic fashion early on in. Despite slow starts, the Sun Devils won three singles matches en route to the 4-2 victory.

Despite being the only Sun Devil currently ranked in singles play by the Oracle/ITA, No. 65 junior Nathan Ponwith fell to IU’s senior Antonio Cembellin 6-2, 7-6.

Breaking their lengthy road woes offers some relief to the Sun Devils, who have weathered the storm of a heavy road schedule with many tough, ranked competitors. ASU will only host five home matches at the Whiteman Tennis Center, with its next home match scheduled for Feb. 24 against San Diego.

The Sun Devils next head to Chicago, Illinois, to take part in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships from Feb. 14-17.

Match Results:

ASU vs. No. 2 Ohio State (6-1 Loss)

Doubles

JJ Wolfe/Martin Joyce (OSU) def. Justin Roberts/Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) – 6-2
Alex Kobelt/James Trotter (OSU) def. Andrea Bolla/William Kirkman (ASU) – 6-4^
Benjamin Hannestad/Nathan Ponwith (ASU) vs. John McNally/Hunter Tubert (OSU) – 5-5 (susp.)

Order of finish: 1, 2^, 3 (susp.)

^Clinched doubles point

Singles

No. 2 JJ Wolf (OSU) def. No. 65 Nathan Ponwith (ASU) 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 1-0 (10-0)
No. 62 John McNally (OSU) def. Andrea Bolla (ASU) 6-4, 6-4
Justin Roberts (ASU) def. No. 12 Kyle Seelig (OSU) 7-6, 0-6, 1-0 (10-8)
Martin Joyce (OSU) def. Benjamin Hannestad (ASU) 6-3, 6-1*
No. 86 Alex Kobelt (OSU) def. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) 6-3, 6-2
Hunter Tubert (OSU) def. William Kirkman (ASU) 6-2, 7-5

Order of finish: 5, 6, 4*, 2, 3, 1

*Clinched victory

ASU vs. Indiana (4-2 Win)

Doubles

Justin Roberts/Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Brandon Lam/Patrick Fletchall (IU) – 6-4
Benjamin Hannestad/Nathan Ponwith (ASU) def. Bennett Crane/Carson Haskins (IU) – 6-4^
No. 26 Andrea Bolla/Tim Ruehl (ASU) vs. Zac Brodney/Andrew Redding (IU) – 5-4 (susp.)

Order of finish: 1, 2^, 3 (susp.)

^Clinched doubles point

Singles