After snapping a four-match losing streak Saturday with a 6-1 win over Iowa, the UW men's tennis team fell short of an upset Sunday, losing to No. 40 Minnesota (5-1 Big Ten, 11-9 overall) 5-2 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium. The duel meet was the Badgers' first Big Ten match played outdoors during the spring season.
The Badgers (2-5, 9-9) were led by the sophomore tandem of Jeremy Sonkin and Nolan Polley. The two big servers dominated in doubles play, taking their match 8-3 at the No. 1 spot. The No. 55 nationally ranked pair captured their ninth win of the spring season and improved to 4-2 in the conference at the No. 1 position. Polley also moved to 10-5 at the No. 2 singles spot this spring, dismantling Andres Osorio of Minnesota 6-4, 6-2.
The match of the day, however, was the contest between Sonkin and No. 59 D.J. Geatz at No. 1 singles. Sonkin was able to disregard Geatz's numerous outbursts and distractions to pull off a thrilling 7-6 (6), 7-6 (9) upset victory.
In the first set with Sonkin down 6-5 and serving, Geatz received his second code violation of the match, giving Sonkin the game and sending the set into a tiebreaker. Sonkin got down quickly 0-6, but fought all the way back in dramatic fashion, clinching the tiebreaker 8-6 when Geatz sent a backhand deep of the baseline.
In the second set, Sonkin got up quickly 5-1, but Geatz rallied to even the set at 5-5, with the set eventually moving into another tiebreaker. Neither player was able to take over, but Sonkin finally broke through up 10-9. After an exchange of volleys at the net, the Wheaton, Ill. native finally found open court, pushing a backhand volley past Geatz for the victory. A tired Sonkin was relieved to finally get the win.
I've played Geatz three times and we've never had a clean match,\ Sonkin said. ""I just had to keep playing my game and play the match point by point, and eventually I was able to take it.""
Unfortunately for the Badgers, apart from Polley and Sonkin, no other player was able to take a set from the Gophers, and UW also missed out on the doubles point. Head coach Greg Van Emburgh said that nothing in practice will change; his team just needs to be more mentally prepared for the matches.
""I think it's determination,"" Van Emburgh said. ""Jeremy and Nolan came out there and were determined, and just kept fighting. Now the other guys need to come out and do the same thing. We're persevering and we'll keep improving.""
The Badgers will play their final home matches of the spring this weekend. UW plays host to No. 7 Illinois Saturday, and Purdue Sunday. Both matches will begin at noon at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
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