CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Sasha Colleu and Jeremy Zhang wrapped up play at the Harvard Chowderfest on Sunday afternoon. The three-day event saw Colleu secure the first collegiate doubles win of his career, while Zhang made his 2025-26 debut and picked up his first singles and doubles victories of the season.
The Illini started the weekend on Friday with a ranked doubles victory. Colleu and Zhang teamed up to defeat Cornell's No. 48-ranked Rushil Khosla/Eric Verdes, marking the first collegiate triumph of Colleu's career.
Shifting into singles action, Zhang remained perfect on the day with his first singles win of the fall. The Illini junior claimed a straight-set decision over Cornell's Eric Verdes, while Colleu fell in his first-ever college singles match in a defeat to Cornell's Rodrigo Fernandes.
On Saturday, the Illini fell to the host Crimson's doubles team of Benjamin Privara and Valdemar Pape. In singles play, Zhang fell in straight sets, while Colleu lost in three to Harvard's Pape. The players split the opening two frames before the Crimson senior prevailed in the third set.
Illinois closed the weekend on Sunday, with Colleu and Zhang suffering a narrow 7-5 defeat to Cornell's Rodrigo Fernandes/Rethin Kumar. Colleu closed the weekend with a three-set loss to Harvard's Rohan Murali, with the sides each taking a set before the Crimson junior pulled out a 10-5 decision in the 10-point superbreaker. Zhang ended his time at the Chowderfest with a 7-5, 6-4 setback versus Cornell's Petar Teodorovic.
RESULTS
Friday, Sept. 19
Sasha Colleu/Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. No. 48 Rushil Khosla/Eric Verdes (Cornell), 7-6(5)
Rodrigo Fernandes (Cornell) def. Sasha Colleu (Illinois), 6-3, 6-4
Jeremy Zhang (Illinois) def. Eric Verdes (Cornell), 7-6(3), 6-1
Saturday, Sept. 20
Benjamin Privara/Valdemar Pape (Harvard) def. Sasha Colleu/Jeremy Zhang (Illinois), 6-3
Masato Perera (Harvard) def. Jeremy Zhang (Illinois), 6-4, 6-4
Valdemar Pape (Harvard) def. Sasha Colleu (Illinois), 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
Sunday, Sept. 21
Rodrigo Fernandes/Rethin Kumar (Cornell) def. Sasha Colleu/Jeremy Zhang (Illinois), 7-5
Rohan Murali (Harvard) def. Sasha Colleu (Illinois), 6-3, 3-6, 10-5
Petar Teodorovic (Cornell) def. Jeremy Zhang (Illinois), 7-5, 6-4
NEXT UP
Adam Jilly and Kenta Miyoshi are representing the Illini this week at the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla. Miyoshi is set to compete in the singles main draw starting on Wednesday, while Jilly continues his run in the singles consolation bracket.
