In a closely contested ACC tournament semifinal, the Duke men’s tennis team was defeated by the No.1 seed Virginia, despite securing the doubles points. The final score of 4-1 favoured Virginia, resulting in the departure of the Blue Devils from the tournament, as they shift their focus towards the NCAAs.
Head coach Ramsey Smith expressed his admiration for the team’s performance while acknowledging the robust display by Virginia. Although Duke initially took the lead with a victory in the doubles, Virginia managed to shift the momentum in their favour during the singles matches.
The confidence that Duke has exhibited throughout the season was evident in their gameplay against the Cavaliers. Despite a strong showing in the doubles and an early advantage, Virginia swiftly turned the tables and seized control in the singles matches.
Coach Smith, despite the setback, views the tournament as a beneficial experience for the team. He is of the opinion that Duke is beginning to hit their stride and produce their best tennis towards the end of the season.
With anticipation, the Blue Devils eagerly await the NCAA tournament and are looking forward to the announcement of the brackets.