STANFORD, Calif. – In a rematch between former Pac-12 programs, No. 3 Stanford men’s tennis opened ITA Kickoff Weekend with a 4-1 victory over Utah at Arrillaga Tennis Center-Taube Pavilion. Stanford improves to 3-0 on the season with the result.
Despite a victory on court two from Samir Banerjee and Alex Razeghi, Utah led early in doubles after wins on courts one and three, both via tiebreakers.
Stanford responded in singles, taking control with four first set wins. Banerjee leveled the match at 1-1 with an efficient 6-0, 6-2 victory in the top position, while Jagger Leach, the reigning ACC Freshman of the Week, put the Cardinal in front with a 6-2, 6-2 win on court five.
Mark Krupkin earned his first-career dual win on court six, extending the margin to 3-1, while Alex Chang clinched his second match of the season, scoring a 6-4, 6-4 victory on court two.
The Cardinal improves to 40-3 all-time against the Utes, and will face either Oregon or Rice on Saturday, Jan. 24 at noon. The winner of Saturday’s dual will advance to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
No. 3 Stanford 4, Utah 1
DOUBLES
1) Huss/Teramo (UTAH) d. Chang/Rivera (STAN), 7-6 (5)
2) Banerjee/Razeghi (STAN) d. Esquici/Terziev (UTAH), 6-1
3) AJ Deem/Potter (UTAH) d. Krupkin/Leach (STAN), 7-6 (6)
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
SINGLES
1) Samir Banerjee (STAN) d. Dante Teramo (UTAH), 6-0, 6-2
2) No. 67 Alex Chang (STAN) d. Emmiett Potter (UTAH), 6-4, 6-4
3) Lorenzo Esquici (UTAH) led Hudson Rivera (STAN), 7-6 (5), 5-3 unfinished
4) Simeon Terziev (UTAH) led Alex Razeghi (STAN), 7-6 (4), 1-3 unfinished
5) Jagger Leach (STAN) d. Balthazar Huss (UTAH), 6-2, 6-2
6) Mark Krupkin (STAN) d. Charles Frey (UTAH), 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 5, 6, 2