The Elon University men’s tennis team has won a season-high six straight matches with wins over Winthrop University and Radford University this weekend.
On Sunday, March 16, the Phoenix took care of Radford 4-2 at the Piedmont Indoor Tennis Center in Greensboro. The teams went straight into singles action after deciding to forgo the doubles portion of the match.
Junior Jordan Kaufman fell at No. 5 singles to open up the match, losing in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 to senior Joe Mills. But junior Brian Kowalski leveled the duel at one a piece, winning at No. 4 singles over junior Javier Waase. Kowalski won by an identical score 6-2, 6-0.
Sophomore Robert Lindgren put the Phoenix in front for the first time, a lead it would not relinquish. Lindgren made quick work of freshman Aymeric Autones at No. 3 singles 6-2, 6-1.
Junior Stefan Fortmann won in his return to No. 2 singles defeating junior Patrick O’Keefe in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. Fellow junior Juan Madrid clinched the victory for the Phoenix with his win at No. 6 singles. The Spaniard defeated freshman Janken Thoen 7-6, 6-3.
On Friday, March 14, the Phoenix squeaked past Winthrop 4-3 on the road. Elon got off to a hot start winning the doubles point. Senior Cameron Siverman and Kaufman defeated sophomores Dylan Comerford and Peter Nagovnak at No. 1 singles 8-4. Soon after, Madrid and Fortmann beat junior Yuta Hirokawa and freshman Michael Chen at No. 3 singles 8-3.
The two teams split the six singles matches, making the doubles point the match decider. Silverman, who entered the match ranked 38th nationally in singles, defeated Hirokawa 7-6, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
Winners of the past two Southern Conference players of the week, Fortmann and Kaufman, each won their respective matches to give the Phoenix the win. Fortmann cruised past Juan Pablo Boada at No. 4 singles winning in straight sets 6-1, 6-0. Kaufman’s victory did not come as easily, but prevailed over Tremayne Mitchell 6-4, 7-5.
The Phoenix will return to SoCon play next week when it hits the road to take on The Citadel Sunday, March 23 before continuing south to take on Georgia Southern University Tuesday, Mar. 25.