URBANA, Ill. – Illinois men's tennis defeated Purdue, 6-1, Friday night at Atkins Tennis Center.
The Illini advance to 15-8 on the season and 5-3 in Big Ten play.
"We're showing some great progress and team spirit," head coach Brad Dancer said. "There's still room to grow and we have to keep pushing ourselves. Our guys are improving and getting into a competitive mindset and that's all we need to keep doing. We have enough skill on this team to get things going."
Kenta Miyoshi and Mathis Debru started doubles off with a 6-2 win over Stefan Simeunovic and Henrik Villanger. Lucas Horve and Oliver Okonkwo clinched the doubles point after defeating Daniel Labrador and Juan David Velasquez, 6-4.
After a 5-4 ret. win for Okonkwo, Jeremy Zhang took a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Mujtaba Ali-Khan.
Tyler Bowers clinched the match for the Illini after a 6-3, 6-4 win over David Velasquez.
With both coaches choosing to play out, Alex Petrov, Debru and Miyoshi all finished their matches. Petrov won 6-1, 7-6 (8) over Simeunovic while Miyoshi defeated Soham Purohit 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Up next
Illinois will take on Indiana on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT on Senior Day at Atkins Tennis Center.
Results
Doubles competition
1. #35 Oliver Okonkwo/Lucas Horve (ILL) def. Daniel Labrador/Juan David Velasquez (PUR) 6-4
2. Kenta Miyoshi/Mathis Debru (ILL) def. Stefan Simeunovic/Henrik Villanger (PUR) 6-2
3. Alex Petrov/Tyler Bowers (ILL) vs. Mujtaba Ali-Khan/Soham Purohit (PUR) 5-3, unfinished
Singles competition
1. Alex Petrov (ILL) def. Stefan Simeunovic (PUR) 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
2. #98 Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) def. Soham Purohit (PUR) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
3. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) def. Henrik Villanger (PUR) 5-4, retired
4. Tyler Bowers (ILL) def. Juan David Velasquez (PUR) 6-3, 6-4
5. Daniel Labrador (PUR) def. Mathis Debru (ILL) 1-6, 6-3, 7-5
6. Jeremy Zhang (ILL) def. Mujtaba Ali-Khan (PUR) 6-3, 6-0
