Deacs Advance to Semifinals of ACC Championships With 4-2 Victory Over No. 3 Seed NC State

CARY, N.C. – The sixth-seeded and 20th-ranked Wake Forest men's tennis team defeated third-seeded and 23rd-ranked NC State, 4-2, Friday evening at the Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C., to advance to the semifinals of the 2023 ACC Championships.

Friday's quarterfinal victory improved Wake Forest (25-10, 7-5 ACC) to stellar 8-1 against NC State, dating back to 2017. Additionally, with Friday's win, the Deacs will advance to the semifinals of the ACC Championships for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.

For the third-consecutive match, Wake Forest clinched the doubles point Friday as the Deacs used consecutive tiebreak victories from No. 70 Jurabek Karimov/Luciano Tacchi and Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson to take a 1-0 lead into singles action.

The Demon Deacons got off to an excellent start in singles, taking a 3-0 lead behind victories in the first and fourth slots. NC State reeled off consecutive wins in fifth and sixth singles, but the Demon Deacons clinched the match victory as Moroni stormed back to knock off No. 73 Luca Staeheli (2-6, 6-2, 6-4).

With Friday's victory, the Demon Deacons will move on to face second-seeded and 12th-ranked Duke Saturday at 2 p.m.

How It Happened

NC State got off to a strong start in doubles, taking the lead in the second and third slots.
- Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson led in first doubles, 2-1.
The Wolfpack went on to take third doubles as Martins Rocens/Fons Van Sambeek defeated Melios Efstathiou/Juan Lopez de Azcona.
Wake Forest trailed 6-5 in first and second doubles through 11 games, but both Moroni/Thomson and No. 70 Jurabek Karimov/Luciano Tacchi stormed back to force tiebreakers.
No. 70 Karimov /Tacchi went on to earn a 7-6 (7-2) victory over No. 15 Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli in second doubles, evening the duo's ledger.
Moroni/Thomson then knocked off No. 20 Rafa Izquierdo Luque/Joseph Wayand, 7-6 (9-7), clinching the doubles point for Wake Forest.
- For the third-consecutive match, the Deacs took a 1-0 lead into singles play.
Wake Forest's momentum from doubles action carried over into singles as the Deacs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead behind victories in first and fourth singles.
- 1) No. 5 Melios Efstathiou defeated No. 58 Rafa Izquierdo Luque 6-4, 6-2.
- 4) Matthew Thomson took down Braden Schick 7-5, 6-3.
NC State stormed back with consecutive wins in fifth and sixth singles, bringing itself within one.
- 5) Fons Van Sambeek defeated Luciano Tacchi 6-2, 7-5.
- 6) Joseph Wayand defeated Juan Lopez de Azcona 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Up 3-2, Wake Forest looked to close out the match as Moroni led 2-6, 6-2, 3-1 and No. 98 Karimov led 6-1, 5-7, 3-2 down the stretch.
Moroni went on to knock off No. 73 Staeheli 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, clinching the victory for Wake Forest.
- Karimov led 6-1, 5-7, 4-2 at the time of the clinch.
No. 20 Wake Forest defeated No. 23 NC State 4-2 to advance to the semifinals of the 2023 ACC Championships.

Singles Results
1. #5 Melios Efstathiou (WFU) def. #58 Rafa Izquierdo Luque (ST) 6-4, 6-2
2. Filippo Moroni (WFU) def. #73 Luca Staeheli (ST) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4
3. Robin Catry (ST) vs. #98 Jurabek Karimov (WFU) 1-6, 7-5, 2-4, unfinished
4. Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. Braden Schick (ST) 7-5, 6-3
5. Fons Van Sambeek (ST) def. Luciano Tacchi (WFU) 6-2, 7-5
6. Joseph Wayand (ST) def. Juan Lopez de Azcona (WFU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles Results
1. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. #20 Rafa Izquierdo Luque/Joseph Wayand (ST) 7-6 (9-7)
2. #70 Jurabek Karimov/Luciano Tacchi (WFU) def. #15 Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli (ST) 7-6 (7-2)
3. Braden Schick/Fons Van Sambeek (ST) def. Juan Lopez de Azcona/Melios Efstathiou (WFU) 6-1

From Coach Bresky
"This was a great match. It was a super close doubles point that we were excited to get and then we got off to some great starts in singles. We served to finish it off early, but credit to NC State, they obviously fought hard to turn the match around. We were fortunate to finish it off as Filo closed out strong. Now, it's off to the semifinals tomorrow. We've got to get the guys rested and prepared to battle again. " - Head coach Tony Bresky

Up Next
With Friday's win, the Demon Deacons will move on to face second-seeded and 12th-ranked Duke on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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Deacs Advance to Semifinals of ACC Championships With 4-2 Victory Over No. 3 Seed NC State

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Melios Efstathiou

Jurabek Karimov

Juan Lopez de Azcona

Filippo Moroni

Luciano Tacchi

Matthew Thomson

Wake Forest Athletics