WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After playing three-straight road duals, the 51st-ranked (tie) Purdue men's tennis team returns to the Schwartz Tennis Center in its B1G opener against No. 5 Illinois (4-1) Saturday. The Boilermakers (2-3) are looking even their season mark while playing on their home courts, where they are 2-0. First serves from the Basham Courts will be at 6 p.m. ET.
Purdue is looking to snap a three-dual losing skid while playing a fourth nationally ranked team. In their last outing, the Boilermakers were dealt a 7-0 setback by then-No. 39 LSU.
In singles, Arthur Dobradin and Diego Acosta lead the way with winning records. Dobradin, who has seen action at Nos. 5 and 6, owns a 3-1 record. Playing in the No. 2 slot, Acosta carries a mark of 2-1. Playing side-by-side with Ricky Medinilla at No. 1 doubles, Acosta and the sophomore are 3-1.
The Illini will be tested Friday by hosting No. 27 Kentucky before traveling east for their conference opener against the Old Gold & Black. They were scheduled to face Valparaiso and No. 16 Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Tuesday, but weather forced the duals to be postponed.
Five nationally ranked singles players will be in action Saturday. Medinilla is listed 84th for the Boilermakers. The Illini boast ranked players in No. 31 Jared Hiltzik, No. 40 Tim Kopinski, No. 44 Aleks Vukic and No. 62 Aron Hiltzik. They also have the nation's third-ranked tandem in Tim Kopinski and Ross Guignon.
Saturday's meeting will be the 96th all-time between the two teams. Illinois controls the series 85-10-1 and has won the last 24 meetings dating back to 1993 when the Boilermakers blanked the Illini, 4-0, in the Big Ten Tournament.
PROMOS // GREEK CHALLENGE KICKOFF
There will be FREE pizza for fans, posters and a sign-making station. All Greek Challenge competitors are encouraged to come out as this season's competition gets underway.