Miami Falls to Reigning National Champion Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Miami men’s tennis team’s four-game winning streak came to an end on Friday when it lost 4-0 to the reigning national champion Virginia Cavaliers (9-4, 1-0 ACC) in Charlottesville, Va.

No. 43 Miami falls to 6-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.

The No. 21 Cavaliers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after securing the doubles point with 6-4 and 6-3 wins on courts two and three, respectively. The first doubles duo of fifth-year senior Juan Martin Jalif and freshman Martin Vergara Del Puerto were on the verge of tying their match at 5-all when the doubles point was clinched.

The Cavaliers doubled their lead to 2-0 when fifth-year senior Franco Aubone fell to No. 108 Ryan Goetz, 3-6, 1-6, at fourth singles.

Virginia’s Alexander Kiefer made it 3-0 in favor of the home team when he defeated freshman Nacho Serra Sanchez, 6-2, 6-4, on court six.

The match was ultimately decided at first singles in a battle between two top-40 players. No. 36 Chris Rodesch prevailed over No. 28 Dan Martin, recording a 6-4, 6-2 victory to clinch the match for Virginia.

At the time of clinching, sophomore Martin Katz and graduate student Leo Bierbaum were rallying back to force a third set on their respective courts. At third singles, freshman Antonio Prat was looking to stave off Jeffrey Von Der Schulenburg, 6-3, 6-5.

The Hurricanes will remain in the state of Virginia to take on the No. 65 Virginia Tech Hokies at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 5.