TEMPE – The 21st-ranked ASU men's tennis team (9-1, 2-0 Pac-12) proved they deserve to be ranked higher Sunday afternoon with a convincing 5-2 victory over Pac-12 foe Washington (4-5, 0-2 Pac-12) at the Whiteman Tennis Center in Tempe. The victory completes the weekend sweep for the ASU squad that topped Oregon 5-2 Friday and New Mexico 4-2 yesterday. Andrea Bolla recorded his seventh-consecutive singles victory, while Christian Lerby notched his fifth and Makey Rakotomalala earned his fourth. The Huskies pushed the Sun Devils to their limits, with four-of-six singles matches going to three sets
How it happened
The day kicked off with ASU down a court in doubles after Christian Lerby/Mortiz Hoffmann dropped their match at No. 3 6-2. Nathan Ponwith/George Stoupe then earned a key and decisive victory at No. 1 (6-2) to tie things up and leaving the deciding point up to Tim Ruehl/Makey Rakotomalala., the latter pair winning 6-2 to put the Maroon and Gold ahead 1-0.
Singles kicked off with Ponwith unable to get a rhythm going at No. 1, and Washington tied the match at 1-1 with Ponwith's 1-6, 4-6 defeat. George Stoupe followed Ponwith with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 5. Rakotomalala earned a two-set victory at No. 4 to put ASU up 3-1, and Bolla clinched the day for ASU with a narrow 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 victory on court three.
Up Next
ASU flies out to Tulsa, Okla. Wednesday to take on Tulsa at 5 p.m. MST before playing Oklahoma in Norman Friday and Baylor in Waco, Texas on Sunday.
Feb 28, 2021 at Tempe, AZ
(Whiteman Tennis Center)
#21 Arizona State 5, Washington 2
Singles competition
1. Clement Chidekh (WASH) def. Nathan Ponwith (ASU) 6-1, 6-4
2. Jack Davis (WASH) def. Tim Ruehl (ASU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Andrea Bolla (ASU) def. Ewen Lumsden (WASH) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
4. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Han-Chih Lin (WASH) 7-5, 6-3
5. George Stoupe (ASU) def. Thibault Cancel (WASH) 7-5, 6-4
6. Christian Lerby (ASU) def. Jack Pulliam (WASH) 6-3, 6-7, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Nathan Ponwith/George Stoupe (ASU) def. Alexis Alvarez/Jack Davis (WASH) 6-2
2. Tim Ruehl/Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Thibault Cancel/Clement Chidekh (WASH) 6-2
3. Han-Chih Lin/Ewen Lumsden (WASH) def. Christian Lerby/Moritz Hoffmann (ASU) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,5,4,3,6,2)
Rakotomalala, Stoupe and Bolla all take their courts to clinch the day for ASU?? ???? pic.twitter.com/nrATSncuva
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) February 28, 2021
How it happened
The day kicked off with ASU down a court in doubles after Christian Lerby/Mortiz Hoffmann dropped their match at No. 3 6-2. Nathan Ponwith/George Stoupe then earned a key and decisive victory at No. 1 (6-2) to tie things up and leaving the deciding point up to Tim Ruehl/Makey Rakotomalala., the latter pair winning 6-2 to put the Maroon and Gold ahead 1-0.
Stoupe/Ponwith win on court 1 and Ruehl/Rakotomalala win on court 2 to give the No. 21 Sun Devils the doubles point?? pic.twitter.com/Rb1HbCQJbL
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) February 28, 2021
Singles kicked off with Ponwith unable to get a rhythm going at No. 1, and Washington tied the match at 1-1 with Ponwith's 1-6, 4-6 defeat. George Stoupe followed Ponwith with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 5. Rakotomalala earned a two-set victory at No. 4 to put ASU up 3-1, and Bolla clinched the day for ASU with a narrow 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 victory on court three.
Victory feels good?? pic.twitter.com/nWESVQ1ygP
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) March 1, 2021
Up Next
ASU flies out to Tulsa, Okla. Wednesday to take on Tulsa at 5 p.m. MST before playing Oklahoma in Norman Friday and Baylor in Waco, Texas on Sunday.
Feb 28, 2021 at Tempe, AZ
(Whiteman Tennis Center)
#21 Arizona State 5, Washington 2
Singles competition
1. Clement Chidekh (WASH) def. Nathan Ponwith (ASU) 6-1, 6-4
2. Jack Davis (WASH) def. Tim Ruehl (ASU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Andrea Bolla (ASU) def. Ewen Lumsden (WASH) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
4. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Han-Chih Lin (WASH) 7-5, 6-3
5. George Stoupe (ASU) def. Thibault Cancel (WASH) 7-5, 6-4
6. Christian Lerby (ASU) def. Jack Pulliam (WASH) 6-3, 6-7, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Nathan Ponwith/George Stoupe (ASU) def. Alexis Alvarez/Jack Davis (WASH) 6-2
2. Tim Ruehl/Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Thibault Cancel/Clement Chidekh (WASH) 6-2
3. Han-Chih Lin/Ewen Lumsden (WASH) def. Christian Lerby/Moritz Hoffmann (ASU) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,5,4,3,6,2)