The Wisconsin men’s tennis tennis team (0-1 Big Ten, 5-5 overall) continued an unsettling trend Saturday night in Minneapolis. As dominant as the Badgers have been at home this season — where they have yet to be defeated — they have remained unable to carry that success with them outside of Madison.
That trend continued this past weekend in Wisconsin’s Big Ten Conference opener against its rival, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-0, 4-3).
Playing in only their second home match of the season, the Gophers made sure they defended their home courts.
The Badgers uncharacteristically lost the doubles point to start off the match, doing so for only the second time this season.
They were unable to overcome the early deficit in singles play, where Minnesota rattled off three straight wins to go up 4-0 and clinch the match. Wisconsin seniors Chema Carranza and Lamar Remy dropped their matches on the first two courts, and when junior Osgar O’Hoisen fell in the No. 5 spot, the Badgers’ hopes were officially dashed.
The match was not without its bright spots for the Badgers, however. After being down 4-0, the team nabbed some much needed moral victories in their conference opening match.
Sophomore Daniel Soyfer continued his perfect start to the spring season in singles by winning a thrilling hardfought battle against Minnesota’s Eli Ogilvy in the No. 4 spot 6-7 (9), 7-6 (2), 10-2.
In the No. 3 singles slot, senior Josef Dodridge delivered an impressive 7-6 6-1 triumph over the No. 34 ranked player in the country, Stefan Milicevic.
The Badgers will return home this week where they will take on Pennsylvania at Nielsen Tennis Center on Friday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m.
