BRUNSWICK, ME – The third-ranked Tufts University men's tennis team delivered a commanding performance on the road Sunday, taking down No. 8 Bowdoin College 6-1 at the Pickard Tennis Courts. The Jumbos (10-1, 2-0 NESCAC) asserted their dominance early in doubles play and never looked back, handing the previously unbeaten Polar Bears (9-1, 3-1 NESCAC) their first loss of the season.
Tufts wasted no time in setting the tone for the afternoon, securing the crucial doubles point with decisive wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. The duo of
Vuk Vuksanovic and
Javier Gonzalez showcased their chemistry, cruising past Bowdoin's Kiran Garapati and Pieter Breuker 6-2. Meanwhile,
Sacha Maes and
Alex Ganchev followed suit with a strong 6-3 victory at No. 2, clinching the opening point for the Jumbos. Though Bowdoin managed to steal a tight 6-4 win at No. 3, Tufts had already set themselves up with early momentum.
The Jumbos carried their dominance into singles action, winning five of six matches with a mix of steady composure and aggressive shot-making.
At the top of the lineup, Vuksanovic continued his stellar play, controlling the baseline and dictating points en route to a convincing 6-3, 6-3 win over Mark Kneiss. Fellow senior
Javier Gonzalez followed with an equally impressive 6-3, 6-2 triumph at No. 2 against Breuker, giving Tufts a commanding lead.
Sophomore
Derin Acaroglu added another straight-set victory at No. 3, outlasting Jackson Codd 6-2, 6-4 with a balanced mix of power and finesse. At No. 5,
Andrej Djokic secured a 6-2, 6-4 win over Andrew Mendelson, continuing his strong season. Freshman
Garv Bahl delivered the clincher at No. 6, battling through a tense second set to edge out Kiran Garapati 6-3, 7-6.
The lone bright spot for Bowdoin came at No. 4, where Cameron Zia edged Tufts'
Lachie Macintosh in an epic battle, 7-6, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8). Despite the setback, Macintosh's resilience was evident in forcing a decisive match tiebreak.
With the victory, Tufts reinforced its standing as a national championship contender, showcasing its depth and poise against a top-10 opponent on the road.
Tufts will look to carry its momentum into its next match as they return home to take on another tough NESCAC opponent in No. 6 Middlebury College next weekend, Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m. on Voute Courts at Tufts Tennis Center.
--JUMBOS--
