The Wisconsin men’s tennis team will have to wait at least another year to break its losing streak against Michigan. A quick start stalled as the team lost its 12th straight match to the Wolverines Sunday. The 5-2 loss moved the No. 50 Badgers to 1-2 in the Big Ten and 6-4 overall. The victory was No. 52 Michigan’s first in four tries of conference action.
A strong showing in the doubles matches got the Badgers off to a good start. Playing against the undefeated Michigan tandem of Henry Beam and Matt Lockin, Scott Rutherford and Scott Green came back to win the tiebreaker 12-10 and the match 9-8.
Rutherford and Green usually occupy the top doubles slot, but for this match the twosome moved down to the No. 2 position to face the perfect Wolverine duo. Justin Baker and Danny Westerman took over the top spot and won the match 8-6. Dave Hippee and Jason Gonzaga lost 8-5 in the third doubles match.
The doubles point, which is given to the team that wins at least two out of the three doubles matches, has been a key for the Badgers’ success this season. In all six victories, Wisconsin has won the doubles point. In each of the three previous losses, the opponent won the point.
“Their singles lineup is the strength of the team,” head coach Pat Klingelhoets said. “I knew we almost had to have the doubles point to have a chance.”
Early on, it looked as if the trend would continue. Rutherford quickly defeated Ben Cox 6-4, 6-1 and gave the Badgers a 2-0 lead. The No. 2 singles player fought off a late comeback in the first set and cruised through the second set for the easy victory.
“Scott’s been playing well all year. He did an outstanding job in singles and doubles,” Klingelhoets said. “He’s really having an outstanding year for us.”
The victory improved Rutherford’s singles record to 7-3 on the season. He and Green are 8-2 in doubles matches.
But those were the Badgers’ last points. The Wolverines countered with five straight points to take the match.
Top singles player Danny Westerman was defeated by Henry Beam 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 in a back-and-forth match that needed a tiebreaker to settle the score.
Two other matches went to three sets. David Hippee and Alex Kasarov were both unable to take control of the decisive third set and lost.
Scott Green could not defeat Lockin for a second time. Lockin won 6-3, 7-5. And Jason Gonzaga was beaten by Michigan’s David Anving 6-4, 6-4. Klingelhoets was unsure why his team did not compete better.
“We had some spots, particularly in the bottom of the lineup, where we didn’t play what we’re capable of playing,” Klingelhoets said. “And against a team like that, it’s going to cost you. I just felt like they out-battled us.”
The Badgers have one week before their next match. The team will face Marquette before resuming the remainder of its conference schedule.
“It’s still early in the Big Ten season,” Rutherford said. “We’ve still got lots of time left.”
