AWARDS:
2024: Appeared in 29 matches…went 4-15 (8 unfinished) in singles and 8-13 (8 unfinished) in doubles…won two doubles matches with Felix Nordby against ranked opponent duos, one versus the No. 33 pairing at Clemson (2/11) and the other versus the No. 3 pairing at Michigan State (3/31)...secured two doubles wins against ranked teams, No. 8 Duke (2/4) and No. 18 Michigan State (3/31).
2023: 16-8 (seven unfinished) in singles…10-9 (five unfinished) in doubles…led Northwestern in singles victories…finished the year winning nine of his last twelve matches (two unfinished), including winning his last five matches (all against ranked teams)...secured a total of eleven singles victories against ranked teams…went 7-1 (three unfinished) in singles against conference opponents, with six wins against ranked teams…rallied for a three-set singles win against no. 35 UCLA in round one of the NCAA Tournament (5/5)…notched another three set victory in round two against no. 4 Kentucky (5/6)…won six of eight doubles matches spanning from late February to early April…recorded seven wins when paired with Ivan Yatsuk, most notably against the nation’s no. 7 doubles pairing from no. 2 Ohio State (3/24), and against no. 35 UCLA in the first round of the NCAA tournament (5/5)…the pairing of Blekher and Yatsuk debuted at no. 74 in the ITA national doubles rankings on April 8.
2022: 2-3 in singles (five unfinished)...2-0 in doubles (one unfinished)...notched a singles victory in game one of season-opening doubleheader with Chicago State (1/14) before winning a doubles match in game two…went unbeaten in singles from January 29 to April 29, tallying one win (four unfinished) during that span.
2021: 4-2 in singles (three unfinished) … 5-7 in doubles … Snatched a win from the No. 2 doubles spot over 23rd-ranked Duke (1/25) … Picked up back-to-back singles wins against Nebraska and Minnesota … Won No. 6 singles matchup against 25th-ranked Michigan (3/28) … Won three-straight doubles matches with partner Natan Spear with huge wins over No. 32 Iowa and No. 9 Illinois.
High School: Ranked as high as No.129 in the ITF junior world rankings… won four ITF junior singles titles and one ITF junior doubles title… Ranked as high as 1497 in ATP rankings… Represents Canada in ITA play.
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Personal: Born in Moscow… Parents are Svetlana Yakovleva and Boris Blekher… Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
DOUBLES
- 2x Big Ten Sportsmanship Award (2023, 2024)
- Big Ten All-Tournament Team (2023)
- 3x Academic All-Big Ten (2022, 2023, 2024)Â
2024: Appeared in 29 matches…went 4-15 (8 unfinished) in singles and 8-13 (8 unfinished) in doubles…won two doubles matches with Felix Nordby against ranked opponent duos, one versus the No. 33 pairing at Clemson (2/11) and the other versus the No. 3 pairing at Michigan State (3/31)...secured two doubles wins against ranked teams, No. 8 Duke (2/4) and No. 18 Michigan State (3/31).
2023: 16-8 (seven unfinished) in singles…10-9 (five unfinished) in doubles…led Northwestern in singles victories…finished the year winning nine of his last twelve matches (two unfinished), including winning his last five matches (all against ranked teams)...secured a total of eleven singles victories against ranked teams…went 7-1 (three unfinished) in singles against conference opponents, with six wins against ranked teams…rallied for a three-set singles win against no. 35 UCLA in round one of the NCAA Tournament (5/5)…notched another three set victory in round two against no. 4 Kentucky (5/6)…won six of eight doubles matches spanning from late February to early April…recorded seven wins when paired with Ivan Yatsuk, most notably against the nation’s no. 7 doubles pairing from no. 2 Ohio State (3/24), and against no. 35 UCLA in the first round of the NCAA tournament (5/5)…the pairing of Blekher and Yatsuk debuted at no. 74 in the ITA national doubles rankings on April 8.
2022: 2-3 in singles (five unfinished)...2-0 in doubles (one unfinished)...notched a singles victory in game one of season-opening doubleheader with Chicago State (1/14) before winning a doubles match in game two…went unbeaten in singles from January 29 to April 29, tallying one win (four unfinished) during that span.
2021: 4-2 in singles (three unfinished) … 5-7 in doubles … Snatched a win from the No. 2 doubles spot over 23rd-ranked Duke (1/25) … Picked up back-to-back singles wins against Nebraska and Minnesota … Won No. 6 singles matchup against 25th-ranked Michigan (3/28) … Won three-straight doubles matches with partner Natan Spear with huge wins over No. 32 Iowa and No. 9 Illinois.
High School: Ranked as high as No.129 in the ITF junior world rankings… won four ITF junior singles titles and one ITF junior doubles title… Ranked as high as 1497 in ATP rankings… Represents Canada in ITA play.
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Personal: Born in Moscow… Parents are Svetlana Yakovleva and Boris Blekher… Anticipated major at Northwestern is Economics.
SINGLES
| Season | Overall W-L | Dual Match |
Fall |
Conference | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4-2 | 4-2 | -- | 4-1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 4-2 |
| 2021-22 | 5-7 | 2-3 | 3-4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2-2 | 0-1 |
| 2022-23 | 20-10 | 16-8 | 4-2 | 5-1 | -- | -- | -- | 1-0 | 3-2 | 12-6 |
| 2023-24 | 6-18 | 4-15 | 2-3 | 2-6 | 2-5 | 2-10 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 35-37 | 26-27 | 9-9 | 11-8 | 2-5 | 2-10 | -- | 1-0 | 5-4 | 16-9 |
| Season | Overall W-L | Dual Match |
Fall |
Conference | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5-7 | 5-7 | -- | 4-7 | -- | 1-0 | 4-7 |
| 2021-22 | 7-3 | 3-0 | 4-3 | -- | -- | -- | 3-0 |
| 2022-23 | 10-11 | 9-9 | 1-2 | 6-3 | 1-1 | 6-6 | 2-2 |
| 2023-24 | 11-15 | 8-13 | 3-2 | 3-4 | 8-13 | -- | -- |
| Career | 33-36 | 25-29 | 8-7 | 13-14 | 9-14 | 7-6 | 9-9 |