WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue Boilermakers upended the No. 58 Nebraska Cornhuskers, 4-1 for the team’s first win of Big Ten play, allowing just one point due to a retirement.
The victory was highlighted by Nour Fathalla’s fourth win against a ranked opponent this season after downing No. 112 Nikolay Sysoev 7-6(5), 6-3 and the team’s first doubles point win in Big Ten play this season.
Following a multi-set comeback by the Huskers to tie the match at the No. 2 position at 6-6, the Boilermakers came from behind in the tiebreaker. After evening the match at 5-5 and 6-6, Nour Fathalla and Stefan Simeunovic reclaimed the lead, and taking the match 7-6(6).
Then, down to the No. 1 position for the doubles point decider, Nebraska posed a multi-set comeback to tie it at 5-5, however Purdue re-gained the momentum and dominated the tiebreak for the team point win with a 7-5(2) victory.
It was Purdue’s third doubles win overall this season (first in Big Ten action).
Meanwhile, Purdue carried its momentum into singles play, picking up four Set 1 wins. Despite a retirement by the Boilermakers, which gave the Huskers the dual-tying point at 1-1, freshman Nikola Jovic was the first court to finish, dominating his match with a pair of 6-4 wins. Henrik Villanger clinched the dual for the Boilers, 6-4, 6-4.
On Sunday, Purdue will host Senior Day for Mujtaba Ali-Kahn. The match, scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET against Wisconsin, will be the final home match of the season. Wimbledon Weekend will continue, with free strawberries and cream, along with lemonade, available for fans.
Doubles
- Henrik Villanger / Maj Premzl (PUR) def. Henry Bilcic / Nikolay Sysoev (NEB): 7-6(2)
- Nour Fathalla / Stefan Simeunovic (PUR) def. Matt Shearer / Henry Lamchinniah (NEB): 7-6(6)
- Joan Torres Espinosa / Leo Linquet (NEB) def. Jacob Lee / Nikola Jovic (PUR): 6-2
Singles
- Nour Fathalla (PUR) def. #112 Nikolay Sysoev (NEB): 7-6(5), 6-3
- Henrik Villanger (PUR) def. Leo Linquet (NEB): 6-4, 6-4
- Colson Wells (NEB) def. Maj Premzl (PUR): 6-3, 3-1 RET
- Juan David Velasquez (PUR) vs. Jeri Lassila (NEB): 5-7, 5-4 UNF
- Jacob Lee (PUR) vs. Niels Van Der Sijs (NEB): 6-4, 3-6, 1-5 UNF
- Nikola Jovic (PUR) def. Joan Torres Espinosa (NEB): 6-4, 6-4
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 3, 2, 1
Singles: 3, 6, 1, 2