Elis (7-3) Extend Win Streak to Three Matches with Perfect Home Victory Over Elon
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Following a morale-lifting victory over No. 26 Old Dominion on Friday, the Yale men's tennis team continued its positive momentum on Sunday, cruising to a perfect 7-0 victory over Elon at home. Despite the considerable quality of their opponents, the Bulldogs dominated across the board, taking the match in relatively quick fashion without dropping a single set. Sunday's standout players included Ryan Cheng, Stefan Doehler and Dylan King, who notched victories in both singles and doubles; these three players helped the Bulldogs improve their record on the season to 7-3 and preserve their unbeaten 4-0 record at home.
The Elis opened Sunday's match with an impressive round of doubles. Top team Stefan Doehler and Alex Hagermoser finished first with a comprehensive 6-1 win over Elon's Chris Humphreys and Petar Tomic. Although the remaining two doubles matches were much closer, freshman pairing Ryan Cheng and Dylan King ultimately clinched the doubles point for Yale in the closest match of the day, a 7-6 tiebreak victory over Elon's Taylor Foote and Felipe Sarrasague at the No. 2 spot. As this result improved the young duo's record together to 7-2, they appear ready to assume a crucial role in the team's doubles success going forward.
After starting well in doubles, the Bulldogs entered Sunday's singles action with confidence. Senior captain Tyler Lu recorded the most lopsided victory of the day at No. 1 singles, making quick work of Elon's Sarrasague 6-0, 6-1; Doehler also cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Elon's Felipe Osses-Konig at the No. 4 position. These results extended streaks in singles for both players, with Doehler having won his last three matches and Lu his last seven. Following the veterans' lead, Yale freshmen King, Cheng and Andrew Heller secured straight-set victories of their own at No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Junior Ziqi Wang also recorded his fifth victory in six singles matches on Sunday by edging Elon's Salvador Mijares in a competitive 6-2, 6-4 match.
With Ivy League competition set to kick off next weekend, the Bulldogs have hit their stride at the perfect time. Perhaps more than anything, this past weekend's success proved that the squad has the talent to beat any team on any given day. Yale will take the court next for its Ivy League season opener, a home match against Brown on March 5.
Report by Cameron Ferguson '18, Yale Sports Publicity
FULL MATCH RESULTS -- Yale 7, Elon 0
