Strong Singles Play Lifts Wildcats Past Badgers, 5-2

3/31/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

March 31, 2013

Results

Site: Madison, Wis. (Nielsen Tennis Center)
Score: No. 26 Northwestern 5, No. 70 Wisconsin 2
Records: NU (17-5, 3-2 Big Ten), Wisconsin (10-7, 1-4 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Saturday, April 6 - at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 11 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. -- No. 26 Northwestern won five of six singles matches as it defeated No. 70 Wisconsin 5-2 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Sunday.

The hosts took the early lead as they posted wins at No. 1 and 3 to take the doubles point. The Wildcats' No. 2 pairing of Mihir Kumar and Spencer Wolf notched an 8-6 win, but it wasn't enough as NU fell behind.

However, Northwestern was dominant in singles play as all five of the team's victories were in straight sets. Kumar evened the match 1-1 when he finished off Alexander Kokorev 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4.

The Wildcats took the lead for good when Sidarth Balaji defeated Oskar Wikberg 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 before Raleigh Smith made it 3-1 with an easy 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 2 over Alexander Kostanov.

Chris Jackman clinched the win for the guests at No. 6, winning his 10th straight match as he defeated Frederik Strabo 6-3, 6-4. Wolf earned one final victory for Northwestern at the top position, knocking off Petr Satral 6-3, 6-4.

In the only match to go longer than two sets, Alex Pasareanu was clipped by Jakhongir Jalalov in a superbreaker 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8).

NU returns to action at 11 a.m. CT Saturday as it remains on the road, traveling to Michigan State.

#26 Northwestern 5, #70 Wisconsin 2
Doubles
1. Billy Bertha/Alexander Kostanov (WIS) def. Sidarth Balaji/Raleigh Smith (NU) 8-5
2. Mihir Kumar/Spencer Wolf (NU) def. Alexander Kokorev/Petr Satral (WIS) 8-6
3. Jakhongir Jalalov/Oskar Wikberg (WIS) def. Fedor Baev/Alex Pasareanu (NU) 8-5
Order of finish: 1, 3*, 2

Singles
1. Spencer Wolf (NU) def. Petr Satral (WIS) 6-3, 6-4
2. Raleigh Smith (NU) def. Alexander Kostanov (WIS) 6-1, 6-1
3. Sidarth Balaji (NU) def. Oskar Wikberg (WIS) 6-2, 6-3
4. Mihir Kumar (NU) def. Alexander Kokorev (WIS) 6-2, 6-1
5. Jakhongir Jalalov (WIS) def. Alex Pasareanu (NU) 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)
6. Chris Jackman (NU) def. Frederik Strabo (WIS) 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: 4, 3, 2, 6*, 1, 5

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