Feb. 24, 2000

LOUISVILLE, Kty. — Despite two close singles matches, the Duke Blue Devils defeated the Kentucky men’s tennis team, 5-2, in the first round of the USTA/ITA National Men’s Team Indoor Championships on Thursday. Carlos Drada, who is ranked No. 11 nationally, forced No. 42 Doug Root to a tiebreaker at the No. 1 position, but lost 6-4, 5-7, 10-8, for Root to clinch the match for the Blue Devils.

In another close singles match, Johan Hesoun, ranked No. 45 nationally, dropped a 4-1 lead in the second set to No. 35 Andres Pedroso and lost in a second set tiebreaker, 6-4, 7-6 (5). The Cats’ singles victories came at the No. 4 and 5 positions where Gustav Pousette defeated Joel Spicher in two sets, 6-3, 6-4, and Edo Bawono beat No. 77 Marko Cerenko, 6-2, 6-4.

The Blue Devils won the doubles point, winning the No. 1 and No. 3 matches. Hesoun and Pousette, ranked No. 32, fell to No. 20 Root and Ramsey Smith, 8-6. The Cats lone doubles victory came at the No. 2 position when Bawono and Grunditz defeated Marko Cerenko and Ted Rueger, 8-4.

“We took our best shot,” Coach Dennis Emery said. “We played a good match, but Duke was too good for us. If we play this way the rest of the weekend, we will do well in this tournament.”

The Cats will play No. 52 New Mexico on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Louisville Tennis Club. New Mexico fell to No. 5 Mississippi, 7-1.

Singles

No. 20 Doug Root, Duke def. No. 11 Carlos Drada, UK6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8)
No. 42 Ramsey Smith, Duke def. Johan Grunditz, UK6-3, 6-2
No. 35 Andres Pedroso, Duke def. No. 45 Johan Hesoun, UK6-4, 7-6 (5)
Gustav Pousette, UK def. Joel Spicher, Duke6-3, 6-4
Edo Bawono, UK def. No. 77 Marko Cerenko, Duke6-2, 6-4
Porter Jones, Duke def. Jorge Marion Escallon, UK6-1, 6-1

Doubles

No. 20 Root/Smith, Duke def. No. 32 Hesoun/Pousette, UK8-6
Bawono/Grunditz, UK def. Cerenko/Ted Rueger, Duke8-4
Jones/Mike Yani, Duke def. Drada/Reven Stephens8-5