MALIBU -- Sweeping their first road trip of the season, Sun Devil men's tennis easily thwarted the Pepperdine Waves, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center.
Devils getting warm???? pic.twitter.com/lcH64YCgZc
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) February 18, 2018
The pair of Makey Rakotomalala and Andrea Bolla got it going for the Devils in doubles play, holding a lead all throughout their match to notch a 6-2 victory on court three. The win over Yusuf Khamis and Scotland Garapedian marked the pair's first win of the season and put ASU in prime position to clinch the doubles point, which ASU has only done once before this season.
Riding the momentum of Rakotomalala and Bolla's quick victory, Thomas Wright and Pierre Louis Dodens made their debut as a pair in the match. The two pulled out to an early lead and never looked back, going into the final game with a 5-4 set lead. Wright and Dodens pulled through for the Devils securing a 1-0 lead heading into singles.
On the final doubles court one, Benjamin Hannestad and Tim Ruehl found themselves in a gritty battle with Lautaro Pane and Dane Esses. The match came to a 4-4 tie near the end, but was suspended after the doubles point was clinched.
Devils clinch the doubles point?? pic.twitter.com/FjsvCDywbi
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) February 18, 2018
In singles play, the Devils took three-straight victories on courts three, five and six from Ruehl, Dodens and Will Kirkman.
Kirkman's victory was the Devils' first on the day, handing Felipe Galvao a loss, 6-1 6-1, on court six. The win marked Kirkman's second on the season and his first since No. 10 TCU on January 21.
Dodens followed suit soon after, outlasting Scotland Garapedian on court five 6-0 6-3 to secure his second-straight singles win.
Ruehl notched his fifth-straight win of the season when he handled Yusuf Khamis on court three to clinch the match for the Devils.
Sun Devils take down Pepperdine!! Final Score: 4-0?? pic.twitter.com/480tVTXKsG
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) February 19, 2018
ASU's win moves them to 16-7 all-time against the Waves, as Pepperdine has heavily dominated the series in the past. The win marks just the second time the Devils have won in Malibu, as the Waves hold a 2-9 record against the Devils at home. The last time the Devils defeated the Waves 4-0 was in 1999, which marked ASU's largest win against Pepperdine.
The Devils return to action next weekend as they travel to Montgomery to take part in the Blue/Gray Tournament.
Arizona State (5-3, 0-0 Pac-12) – 4
Pepperdine (1-6, 0-0 WCC) – 0
Doubles Finishes:
- Hannestad/Ruehl (ASU) vs. Pane/Esses (PEP) | susp. 4-4
- Wright/Dodens (ASU) def. Mendelsohn/Berdusco (PEP) | 6-4
- Bolla/Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Khamis/Garapedian (PEP) | 6-2
Singles Finishes:
- No. 90 Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) Dane Esses (PEP) | 4-6, 2-4, unfinished
- No. 38 Benjamin Hannestad vs. Brian Berdusco (PEP) | 6-1, 3-5, unfinished
- Tim Ruehl (ASU) def. Yusuf Khamis (PEP) | 6-0, 7-5
- Andrea Bolla (ASU) vs. Max Mendelsohn (PEP) | 3-6, 4-4, unfinished
- Pierre Louis Dodens (ASU) def. Scotland Garapedian (PEP) | 6-0, 6-3
- Will Kirkman (ASU) def. Felipe Galvao (PEP) | 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 3