URBANA, Ill. – Illinois men's tennis defeated instate rival Northwestern 4-1 on Saturday afternoon. The Illini quickly won the doubles point against the wildcats. Gabrielius Guzauskas/Alex Brown defeated #66 Forman/Nordby 6-2 on court 1. Hunter Heck/Olivier Stuart swiftly followed on court 2, defeating Bratholm/B.Berusco 6-3.
Heck was the first Illini to win in singles. He defeated #30 Forman 7-6(3), 6-4 to put Illinois up 2-1. Northwestern picked up a point on court 4 with a win by Thieneman.
Guzauskas extended the Illini's lead with a straight set win over B. Berdusco 6-3,6-3 on court 6.
"After winning doubles it gave us the momentum going into singles and confidence going into my match," said Guzauskas. "During my match it was pretty windy so I just had to be patient and out-rally him."
Siphosothando Montsi clinched the upset for Illinois on court 2. He defeated Bratholm 7-6(5), 6-4 to finish play. "Going into singles knowing we already have point on the board is a boost for me," said Montsi. "It felt good to win today, Northwestern is obviously an instate rival so we had to fight extra hard today. Feels good to beat them an a good win for this team to have as Big Ten's get closer."
Results
Doubles
1. Gabrielius Guzauskas/Alex Brown (ILL) def. #66 Steven Forman/Felix Nordby (NW) 6-2
2. Hunter Heck/Olivier Stuart (ILL) def. Simen Bratholm/Brian Berdusco (NW) 6-3
3. Nic Meister/Siphosothando Montsi (ILL) vs. Natan Spear/Trice Pickens (NW) 3-4, unfinished
Singles
1. #98 Hunter Heck (ILL) def. #30 Steven Forman (NW) 7-6, 6-4
2. Siphosothando Montsi (ILL) def. Simen Bratholm (NW) 7-6 (0-5), 6-4*
3. #59 Olivier Stuart (ILL) vs. Trice Pickens (NW) 3-6, 7-6, unfinished
4. Presley Thieneman (NW) def. Alex Brown (ILL) 6-1, 7-5
5. Nic Meister (ILL) vs. Felix Nordby (NW) 3-6, 6-3, 1-3, unfinished
6. Gabrielius Guzauskas (ILL) def. Brian Berdusco (NW) 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,1,6,2)
UP NEXT
Illinois concludes the regular season at home next weekend against Indiana on Friday and Purdue on Sunday.
