No. 3 Wake Forest snaps No. 11 UNC men's tennis three-match win streak with 5-2 win

The No. 11 North Carolina men's tennis team battled conference foe from down the road, No. 3 Wake Forest, but fell short of an upset, losing 5-2. In a matchup with significant ACC implications, the Tar Heels slipped to 4-2 in conference play while the Demon Deacons improved to a perfect 8-0.

What happened?

Entering the matchup, the Tar Heels had rattled off three-straight victories, including two over ACC opponents. After starting conference play 4-1, UNC looked to avenge their early-season loss to Wake Forest from the ITA National Team Indoor Championship.

UNC was poised to do just that after winning the doubles point and first singles match on the Demon Deacon’s home court. Up 2-0, the Tar Heels ran out of steam and lost every remaining singles match to drop their second straight matchup with Wake.

Who stood out?

It appeared UNC could potentially pull off the upset after a strong performance in doubles drew first blood. 

Sophomore Mac Kiger and junior Simon Soendergaard continued to exhibit their dominance as a team. The duo cruised to a comfortable 6-2 victory on Court Three and improved their personal record on the season to an impressive 9-2.

However, Wake took the second doubles match, putting all the pressure on upperclassmen Blaine Boyden and William Blumberg on Court One. UNC’s top doubles team responded with a hard-fought victory against Borna Gojo and Alan Gadjiev, winning 6-4. The win netted the Tar Heels the match’s first point and improved Boyden and Blumberg’s record to 10-2 on the season and a perfect 5-0 in conference play.

UNC’s second and final point came when Kiger cruised to a victory on Court Six against Siddhant Banthia. The New York-native swept the match, winning both sets (6-4, 6-2) and boosting his season’s record to an exceptional 7-1.

When was it decided?

With the Tar Heels up 2-0, Wake Forest won straight set victories against Benjamin Sigouin and Josh Peck to tie the match.

When the Demon Deacons took another match on Court one, first-year Brian Cernoch’s back was put against the wall on the third court. After winning the first set 6-4, Cernoch appeared like he was going to make another big splash early into his college career.

Unfortunately for UNC, Cernoch lost the next two sets (6-4, 6-3) and Wake Forest clinched the match.

Though the Demon Deacons had already won, the teams let the match on Court Four play out. There, Wake Forest’s Melios Efstathiou beat Boyden in three sets to extend the home team’s margin to 5-2.

Why does it matter?

With six matches left before the conference championship, UNC was looking to make ground in the ACC standings. Losing to Wake, it is doubtful they will be able to win the conference outright. 

However, they will have a chance to beat the ACC’s second-ranked team when they travel to Charlottesville, Va., to take on the Cavaliers on April 12.

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels next take the court when they host Florida State on March 31. The first serve Sunday will be tossed at 1 p.m.

@KenjonVander

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com