Villanger and Jakic Finish Weekend 3-1

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Purdue Men's Tennis team wrapped up the Notre Dame Invitational with four singles wins on Sunday.

After a slow start to the weekend, sophomore Mujtaba Ali-Khan found his stride as he defeated Matteo Iaquinto of DePaul in straight sets. His Sunday win comes on the back of a straight-set win on Saturday's singles round. The returner finishes his weekend at 3-1 and brings his fall record to 4-3.

Rookies Henrik Villanger and Xander Ekstrand picked up straight-set wins on the final day. Ekstrand bookends his collegiate debut with a win over Matej Kajzer 6-2, 7-5. His 2-2 start featured multiple nail-biting sets. Although inexperienced, the young Boilermaker was able to climb his way to three sets of favorable 7-5/7-6 decisions. 

Villanger showed out in his debut weekend, going 3-1 in singles play. He racked up wins against three different teams including future conference opponent Northwestern. Two of his three wins came in straight sets where he surrendered more than three games just once. 

Another newbie, Marino Jakic, also laid claim to a 3-1 record. On the final day of his Purdue debut, the junior toughed out a tiebreak victory, his third match of the weekend that went to a super tiebreak. Two of Jakic's three singles wins came over future conference foes. He beat Indiana's Deacon Thomas on day two and Illinois's Jeremy Zhang on day three.

The Boilermakers accumulated 26 total wins across the weekend. Purdue faces a quick turn-around as they gear up for the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals this Thur, Oct. 12-Mon, Oct. 16.

SINGLES ROUND 4
Henrik Villanger (PUR) def. Callum Rendle (VAN) - 6-2, 7-6(3)
Jean-Marc Malkowski (ND) def. Juan David Velasquez (PUR) - 6-2, 3-6, 10-6
Jamie Corsillo (ND) def. Stefan Simeunovic (PUR) - 6-7(6), 6-3, 10-5
Brian Bisley (ND) def. Soham Purohit (PUR) - 7-6(5), 6-0
Marino Jakic (PUR) def. Jeremy Zhang (ILL) - 6-4, 4-6, 10-7
Mathis Debru (ILL) def. Daniel Labrador (PUR) - 6-1, 6-4
Mujtaba Ali-Khan (PUR) def. Matteo Iaquinto (DEP) - 6-1, 7-5
Alexander Ekstrand (PUR) def. Matej Kajzer (WMU) - 6-2, 7-5