Northwestern University Athletics
2023-24 Men's Tennis Roster
Gleb Blekher
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Moscow, Russia
AWARDS:
2024: Appeared in 29 matchesโฆwent 4-15 (8 unfinished) in singles and 8-13 (8 unfinished) in doublesโฆwon 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 singlesโฆ10-9 (five unfinished) in doublesโฆled Northwestern in singles victoriesโฆfinished 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 teamsโฆwent 7-1 (three unfinished) in singles against conference opponents, with six wins against ranked teamsโฆrallied for a three-set singles win against no. 35 UCLA in round one of the NCAA Tournament (5/5)โฆnotched another three set victory in round two against no. 4 Kentucky (5/6)โฆwon six of eight doubles matches spanning from late February to early Aprilโฆrecorded seven wins when paired with Ivan Yatsuk, most notably against the nationโs 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)โฆthe 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 twoโฆwent unbeaten in singles from January 29 to April 29, tallying one win (four unfinished) during that span.
2021:ย 4-2 in singles (three unfinished) โฆ 5-7 in doubles โฆ Snatched a win from the No. 2 doubles spot over 23rd-ranked Duke (1/25)ย โฆ Picked up back-to-back singles wins against Nebraska and Minnesota โฆ Won No. 6 singles matchup against 25th-ranked Michigan (3/28) โฆ 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 rankingsโฆ won four ITF junior singles titles and one ITF junior doubles titleโฆ Ranked as high as 1497 in ATP rankingsโฆ Represents Canada in ITA play.
ย
Personal:ย Born in Moscowโฆ Parents are Svetlana Yakovleva and Boris Blekherโฆ 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)ย
2024: Appeared in 29 matchesโฆwent 4-15 (8 unfinished) in singles and 8-13 (8 unfinished) in doublesโฆwon 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 singlesโฆ10-9 (five unfinished) in doublesโฆled Northwestern in singles victoriesโฆfinished 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 teamsโฆwent 7-1 (three unfinished) in singles against conference opponents, with six wins against ranked teamsโฆrallied for a three-set singles win against no. 35 UCLA in round one of the NCAA Tournament (5/5)โฆnotched another three set victory in round two against no. 4 Kentucky (5/6)โฆwon six of eight doubles matches spanning from late February to early Aprilโฆrecorded seven wins when paired with Ivan Yatsuk, most notably against the nationโs 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)โฆthe 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 twoโฆwent unbeaten in singles from January 29 to April 29, tallying one win (four unfinished) during that span.
2021:ย 4-2 in singles (three unfinished) โฆ 5-7 in doubles โฆ Snatched a win from the No. 2 doubles spot over 23rd-ranked Duke (1/25)ย โฆ Picked up back-to-back singles wins against Nebraska and Minnesota โฆ Won No. 6 singles matchup against 25th-ranked Michigan (3/28) โฆ 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 rankingsโฆ won four ITF junior singles titles and one ITF junior doubles titleโฆ Ranked as high as 1497 in ATP rankingsโฆ Represents Canada in ITA play.
ย
Personal:ย Born in Moscowโฆ Parents are Svetlana Yakovleva and Boris Blekherโฆ 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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