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The Daily Tar Heel

Burkhardt’s return from bench beneficial to men’s tennis team

RALEIGH — Having Joey Burkhardt back boosts the North Carolina men’s tennis team even if he loses.

The junior transfer from Florida, whose failure to meet team obligations left him on the bench for No. 22 UNC’s first eight dual matches, returned just before the start of ACC play. The Tar Heels struggled to a 4-4 start without Burkhardt but are 3-0 with him in the lineup after a pair of road victories this weekend.

Burkhardt, ranked No. 103 nationally, is 1-2 in his three singles matches since returning. He lost his singles match against N.C. State on Friday, but sparked the Tar Heels in an upset of the then-No. 3 Texas on March 8, getting UNC on the board with the first of the team’s five singles victories.

When Burkhardt was sidelined, the Tar Heels were stretched thin. Some starters had to move up to higher courts and play better opponents, and bench players were forced into starting roles.

North Carolina coach Sam Paul said that Burkhardt’s experience lets him help lead the Tar Heels whether he wins or loses a match.

“He plays singles and doubles really well,” Paul said. “The guy’s got a ton of experience, he’s played a lot of tennis. He’s always a tough out.”

In Burkhardt’s two years with the Gators, Florida finished ranked No. 11 and No. 8 in the country. Burkhardt went 40-24 in singles and 36-28 in doubles during that span.

Burkhardt did win his doubles match against the Wolfpack, and his singles loss to Rafael Paez only came in a super tiebreaker. North Carolina had already clinched the match, so Burkhardt and Paez did not play a complete third set.

Paez won the match 7-6, 2-6, 1-0 (10-8).

Burkhardt said he was disappointed that he didn’t get to play out the match.

“It stinks that we weren’t able to play the third set because I felt I had the advantage physically,” Burkhardt said. “He was obviously struggling. He took a timeout for cramping and was breathing heavy after every point, so I was trying to make him go from corner to corner.”

But he also said he might have focused too much on the physical battle.

“I was hitting my forehands through the court and making the guy work, so I was able to tire him out, but I could have been more aggressive toward the end,” Burkhardt said. “I should have been making more serves and hitting more forehand winners.”

Burkhardt hit mostly high topspin shots against Paez, the shortest player on the court for either team at 5’8”. He hit balls all over the court to force Paez to run them down, but rarely got them past his opponent.

Burkhardt could not wear down Paez enough to win the match, but Paul said that was likely only because Paez did not have to play another full set.

“It’s too bad we had to play tiebreakers instead of a third set,” Paul said. “It was our first really hot match of the year, but I’d rather play a whole set out because it’s better for us with our conditioning.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.

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