Northwestern University Athletics
2023-24 Men's Tennis Roster
Gleb Blekher
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Moscow, Russia
AWARDS:
2024: Appeared in 29 matchesβ¦went 4-15 (8 unfinished) in singles and 8-13 (8 unfinished) in doublesβ¦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 singlesβ¦10-9 (five unfinished) in doublesβ¦led Northwestern in singles victoriesβ¦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 teamsβ¦went 7-1 (three unfinished) in singles against conference opponents, with six wins against ranked teamsβ¦rallied for a three-set singles win against no. 35 UCLA in round one of the NCAA Tournament (5/5)β¦notched another three set victory in round two against no. 4 Kentucky (5/6)β¦won six of eight doubles matches spanning from late February to early Aprilβ¦recorded seven wins when paired with Ivan Yatsuk, most notably against the nationβs 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)β¦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 twoβ¦went unbeaten in singles from January 29 to April 29, tallying one win (four unfinished) during that span.
2021:Β 4-2 in singles (three unfinished) β¦ 5-7 in doubles β¦ Snatched a win from the No. 2 doubles spot over 23rd-ranked Duke (1/25)Β β¦ Picked up back-to-back singles wins against Nebraska and Minnesota β¦ Won No. 6 singles matchup against 25th-ranked Michigan (3/28) β¦ 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.
Β
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)Β
2024: Appeared in 29 matchesβ¦went 4-15 (8 unfinished) in singles and 8-13 (8 unfinished) in doublesβ¦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 singlesβ¦10-9 (five unfinished) in doublesβ¦led Northwestern in singles victoriesβ¦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 teamsβ¦went 7-1 (three unfinished) in singles against conference opponents, with six wins against ranked teamsβ¦rallied for a three-set singles win against no. 35 UCLA in round one of the NCAA Tournament (5/5)β¦notched another three set victory in round two against no. 4 Kentucky (5/6)β¦won six of eight doubles matches spanning from late February to early Aprilβ¦recorded seven wins when paired with Ivan Yatsuk, most notably against the nationβs 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)β¦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 twoβ¦went unbeaten in singles from January 29 to April 29, tallying one win (four unfinished) during that span.
2021:Β 4-2 in singles (three unfinished) β¦ 5-7 in doubles β¦ Snatched a win from the No. 2 doubles spot over 23rd-ranked Duke (1/25)Β β¦ Picked up back-to-back singles wins against Nebraska and Minnesota β¦ Won No. 6 singles matchup against 25th-ranked Michigan (3/28) β¦ 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.
Β
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 |
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