The Dartmouth men’s tennis team suffered its first defeat of the season against reigning Big East champion St. John’s, in a closely contested 4-3 match at the Boss Tennis Center. This loss follows Dartmouth’s impressive 5-0 start, putting their winning streak to the test.
In the showdown, both teams secured three singles matches, underscoring the pivotal significance of the doubles point. Dartmouth’s Miles Groom and Waleed Qadir remained undefeated, representing the team’s sole doubles victory. Nonetheless, their efforts were insufficient to repel the Red Storm, who emerged triumphant on the top two courts.
Despite the defeat, Henry Ren, Miles Groom, and Yujiro Onuma secured victories for Dartmouth in the singles matches. Onuma, boasting an outstanding 5-0 record, emerged as Dartmouth’s standout performer in singles. Carlos Guerrero Alvarez came perilously close to clinching victory for Dartmouth at the No. 1 position, but was narrowly defeated in a third-set tiebreak by Francisco Bascon.
Following this demanding contest, the Big Green will enjoy a weekend off before participating in the ECAC Championship at Harvard, commencing on Friday, Feb. 16.
The outcomes of the doubles matches were as follows:
Francisco Bascon/Leonardo Mileikowsky (St. John’s) defeated Henry Ren/Alex Knox-Jones (Dartmouth) with a score of 6-4.
Ignacio Vinas/Leon Petko (St. John’s) defeated Carlos Guerrero Alvarez/Hikaru Takeda (Dartmouth) with a score of 6-4.
Miles Groom/Waleed Qadir (Dartmouth) secured a victory against Martin Bugaj/Carl Gustavsson (St. John’s) with a score of 6-3.
In the singles matches, the results were as follows:
Francisco Bascon (St. John’s) defeated Carlos Guerrero Alvarez (Dartmouth) with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(3).
Henry Ren (Dartmouth) defeated Martin Burgaj (St. John’s) with a score of 7-5, 6-3.
Carl Gustavsson (St. John’s) defeated Hikaru Takeda (Dartmouth) with a score of 7-5, 6-0.
Miles Groom (Dartmouth) secured a victory against Marco Cinotti (St. John’s) with a score of 6-0, 6-2.
Yujiro Onuma (Dartmouth) defeated Leonardo Mileikowsky (St. John’s) with a score of 6-2, 6-2.
Ryota Kaneda (St. John’s) defeated Logan Chang (Dartmouth) with a score of 7-5, 6-2.
The game proved to be an exhilarating and hard-fought contest between two competitive teams, showcasing the talent and determination of the players. While the outcome did not favour Dartmouth, their performance underscored their dedication to success and their ability to rise to the occasion.
As the team anticipates the upcoming ECAC Championship, they will continue to train and prepare for their next opportunity to exhibit their skills on the court. Notwithstanding the setback, the Dartmouth men’s tennis team remains resolute and focused on achieving further success in the remaining course of the season.