Wake Forest Athletics
Monday, February 26
Athens, Ga.
2:30 p.m.
Wake Forest University
5
at
2
#40 Georgia
No. 3 Wake Forest Battles Back to Down Georgia, 5-2
2/26/2024 6:12:00 PM | Men's Tennis
The Demon Deacons remained unbeaten against the Bulldogs over the past seven seasons.
ATHENS, Ga. – After dropping the doubles point, the No. 3-ranked Wake Forest men's tennis team stormed back to defeat 2023 NCAA Quarterfinalist Georgia, 5-2, Monday evening at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.
With the victory, the Demon Deacons (10-3) improved to 5-0 against Georgia (4-4), dating back to 2017. Additionally, the result marked just the second loss the Bulldogs have suffered at home over the past two seasons.
Monday, the Deacs faced an early 1-0 deficit as they dropped the doubles point for the first time in over three weeks (Feb. 4). Undaunted, Wake Forest reeled off four-straight singles victories to clinch the match, before going on to win, 5-2.
Individually, graduate student Matthew Thomson defeated No. 77 Miguel Perez Pena of Georgia 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, earning his third ranked win of the 2024 campaign. Senior No. 25 Filippo Moroni also defeated a ranked foe, as he earned a straight-set win over No. 68 Thomas Paulsell in the top slot.
Of note, freshman Luca Pow improved to 11-2 in dual singles action to start his collegiate career. Additionally, Pow is currently on a five-match winning streak in singles.
How It Happened
Singles Results
1. #25 Filippo Moroni (WFU) def. #54 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-4, 6-4
2. #56 Ryan Colby (UGA) def. #53 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WFU) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. #77 Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. #117 Luciano Tacchi (WFU) def. Niels Ratiu (UGA) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
5. Luca Pow (WFU) def. Freddy Blaydes (UGA) 6-3, 6-5
6. Holden Koons (WFU) def. Cyrus Mahjoob (UGA) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. #3 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons (WFU) def. Freddy Blaydes/Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-2
2. #37 Ryan Colby/Niels Ratiu (UGA) def. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WFU) 6-4
3. Cyrus Mahjoob/Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) def. Luca Pow/Luciano Tacchi (WFU) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,1,4,5,2,3)
From Coach Bresky
"This was a great road win. It was our first match outdoors, so we knew it would be tough, especially scheduling wise. Georgia is always tough, and they have a great environment down here. We didn't play our best in doubles. The transition takes a while, but I was glad to see our toughness in singles. We're excited to get the win." - Head coach Tony Bresky
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now travel to face the defending back-to-back national champions, No. 7 Virginia on Friday, March 1. First serve is slated for 3 p.m.
Follow the Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
With the victory, the Demon Deacons (10-3) improved to 5-0 against Georgia (4-4), dating back to 2017. Additionally, the result marked just the second loss the Bulldogs have suffered at home over the past two seasons.
Monday, the Deacs faced an early 1-0 deficit as they dropped the doubles point for the first time in over three weeks (Feb. 4). Undaunted, Wake Forest reeled off four-straight singles victories to clinch the match, before going on to win, 5-2.
Individually, graduate student Matthew Thomson defeated No. 77 Miguel Perez Pena of Georgia 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, earning his third ranked win of the 2024 campaign. Senior No. 25 Filippo Moroni also defeated a ranked foe, as he earned a straight-set win over No. 68 Thomas Paulsell in the top slot.
Of note, freshman Luca Pow improved to 11-2 in dual singles action to start his collegiate career. Additionally, Pow is currently on a five-match winning streak in singles.
How It Happened
- Wake Forest had a solid start to doubles play, as it took the early lead on courts one and two.
- The Bulldogs went on to clinch the doubles point behind victories on courts two and three, respectively.
- Of note, No. 3 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons remained unbeaten in dual doubles play this season with a 6-3 win on court one.
- Wake Forest trailed 1-0 heading into singles.
- Head coach Tony Bresky made a slight adjustment to the Demon Deacons' singles lineup, switching Luca Pow and Holden Koons in the fifth and sixth slots, respectively.
- 1) No. 25 Filippo Moroni
- 2) No. 53 DK Suresh Ekambaram
- 3) Matthew Thomson
- 4) No. 117 Luciano Tacchi
- 5) Luca Pow
- 6) Holden Koons
- Wake Forest got off to a strong start in singles, winning the opening set on four courts.
- The Demon Deacons quickly tied the contest at one, as Koons earned a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Cyrus Mahjoob.
- No. 25 Moroni then extended the Deacs' lead as he battled back from an early deficit to defeat No. 68 Thomas Paulsell in straight sets (6-4, 6-4).
- No. 117 Tacchi gave Wake Forest a commanding 3-1 lead as he earned a 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 win on court four.
- Minutes later, Pow clinched the match behind a 6-3, 7-5 victory on court five.
- Of note, Pow is now on a five-match winning streak in dual singles play.
- The two sides decided to play out the remainder of the match.
- Georgia took second singles, before Thomson knocked off No. 77 Miguel Perez Pena on court three to close the contest.
- No. 3 Wake Forest defeated Georgia, 5-2.
Singles Results
1. #25 Filippo Moroni (WFU) def. #54 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-4, 6-4
2. #56 Ryan Colby (UGA) def. #53 DK Suresh Ekambaram (WFU) 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Matthew Thomson (WFU) def. #77 Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. #117 Luciano Tacchi (WFU) def. Niels Ratiu (UGA) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
5. Luca Pow (WFU) def. Freddy Blaydes (UGA) 6-3, 6-5
6. Holden Koons (WFU) def. Cyrus Mahjoob (UGA) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. #3 DK Suresh Ekambaram/Holden Koons (WFU) def. Freddy Blaydes/Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-2
2. #37 Ryan Colby/Niels Ratiu (UGA) def. Filippo Moroni/Matthew Thomson (WFU) 6-4
3. Cyrus Mahjoob/Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) def. Luca Pow/Luciano Tacchi (WFU) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,1,4,5,2,3)
From Coach Bresky
"This was a great road win. It was our first match outdoors, so we knew it would be tough, especially scheduling wise. Georgia is always tough, and they have a great environment down here. We didn't play our best in doubles. The transition takes a while, but I was glad to see our toughness in singles. We're excited to get the win." - Head coach Tony Bresky
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now travel to face the defending back-to-back national champions, No. 7 Virginia on Friday, March 1. First serve is slated for 3 p.m.
Follow the Deacs:
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
12
66
Thomas Paulsell / 0 (54/-) [UGA]
44
#2 Singles Match
12
56
Ryan Colby / 0 (56/-) [UGA]
77
#3 Singles Match
123
366
Miguel Perez Pena / 0 (77/-) [UGA]
632
#4 Singles Match
123
616
Niels Ratiu / 0 [UGA]
264
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Freddy Blaydes / 0 [UGA]
35
#6 Singles Match
12
66
Cyrus Mahjoob / 0 [UGA]
34
Order of Finish:
6,1,4,5,2,3
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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