URBANA, Ill. – Illinois capped off its three-match homestand with its fourth straight win, taking down Purdue, 4-0, at Atkins Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.
The Fighting Illini claimed the doubles point before securing singles triumphs on Courts 2, 3, and 5 en route to victory. The Orange and Blue are now 19-5 overall and 8-2 in Big Ten play.
The hosts jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the contest after claiming doubles wins on Courts 2 and 3. Kenta Miyoshi and William Mroz finished first with their 6-4 decision over Nour Fathalla and Stefan Simeunovic at No. 2, while David Bakonyi and Zach Viiala's 6-3 tally over Jacob Lee and Nikola Jovic completed the doubles point for the Illini.
On the singles courts, Illinois continued its momentum and grabbed four opening sets. It was ultimately Gabriel Debru who registered the first singles win of the day with his dominant 6-2, 6-2 outing against Henrik Villanger on Court 2.
Next to finish was Viiala, who logged a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles over Jacob Lee, which helped the Fighting Illini redshirt sophomore improve to 12-1 in singles play and 6-1 during Big Ten competition this season.
Mroz clinched the Illinois victory with his 6-2, 6-2 decision over Maj Premzl. The Illini senior is now 13-4 on the singles courts along with a 6-2 mark in Big Ten play.
RESULTS
Doubles
No. 1: Gabriel Debru/Tyler Bowers (Illinois) vs. Henrik Villanger/Maj Premzl (Purdue), 5-5, unfinished
No. 2: #52 Kenta Miyoshi/William Mroz (Illinois) def. Nour Fathalla/Stefan Simeunovic (Purdue), 6-4
No. 3: David Bakonyi/Zach Viiala (Illinois) def. Jacob Lee/Nikola Jovic (Purdue), 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 3
Singles
No. 1: #17 Kenta Miyoshi (Illinois) vs. Nour Fathalla (Purdue), 6-7(4), 1-2, unfinished
No. 2: #37 Gabriel Debru (Illinois) def. Henrik Villanger (Purdue), 6-2, 6-2
No. 3: #76 William Mroz (Illinois) def. Maj Premzl (Purdue), 6-2, 6-2
No. 4: Adam Jilly (Illinois) vs. Juan David Velasquez (Purdue), 4-6, 5-3, unfinished
No. 5: Zach Viiala (Illinois) def. Jacob Lee (Purdue), 6-4, 6-2
No. 6: Tyler Bowers (Illinois) vs. Nikola Jovic (Purdue), 6-1, 4-5, unfinished
Order of finish: 2, 5, 3
UP NEXT
No. 14 Illinois (19-5, 8-2 B1G) heads to the West Coast for its final road matches of the regular season. The Illini will face No. 22 UCLA on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT before taking on USC on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT in Los Angeles.
