Men's Tennis: January Review

So we’re about halfway through the non-conference schedule before the Wildcats kick off Big Ten play with Michigan on February 22^nd. So why not take a closer look to see how the Northwestern players have been performing individually.

Marc Dwyer:

- Junior Dwyer is playing well at both the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in singles. He has a record of 4-2 in singles going 2-1 at both spots.

- Notable Win: Dwyer broke Butler’s Ben Raynauld at No. 1 to win both sets and clinched NU’s dominant victory over the Bulldogs 7-0

- Notable Loss: Dwyer lost to Notre Dame’s Brett Helgeson, who’s ranked 11^th in the nation, in the No. 1 spot 6-3, 6-2.

Alexander Thams:

- Graduate student Thams started the season struggling a bit at No. 1 singles, but has been playing more and more steadily at the No. 2 spot. Thams’ singles record is 2-3.

- Notable Win: Thams defeated University of Chicago’s Lado Bakhutashvili 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2 for his first victory of the dual season.

- Notable Loss: Thams fell short in a tight match against Notre Dame’s Sheeva Parbhu 6-4, 7-6 (8) at No. 2.

Alex Sanborn:

- Sophomore captain Sanborn has the best record of all the Wildcats at 5-1. He has played consistently at both the No. 3 and No. 4 singles spot.

- Notable Win: Sanborn blanked University of Chicago’s Tim Walsh in both sets to win 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4.

- Notable Loss: Sanborn’s only loss was a tight one that came against his Houston rival, Notre Dame’s Andrew Roth. Sanborn was defeated 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 at No. 3.

Pete Rispoli:

- Freshman Rispoli has shared time at both the No. 3 and No. 4 spot. Rispoli had some trouble at No. 3, but has shown more consistency at No. 4. Rispoli’s overall dual singles record is 2-3.

- Notable Win: Rispoli came back from his first set loss to win his match against Butler’s Bryce Warren. Rispoli won the match 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (5).

- Notable Loss: Rispoli played in a close match against Louisville’s David Simon. Rispoli was edged out 7-6, 7-6 at No. 3.

Juan Gomez:

- Senior Gomez has been very solid at No. 5 singles the entire season with a 4-2 record.

- Notable Win: Gomez earned a point for the Cats in the shortened 4-0 victory over University of Illinois at Chicago. Gomez beat UIC’s Tim O’Brien 6-3, 6-3 at No. 5.

- Notable Loss: Gomez lost in a close match against Notre Dame’s David Anderson that clinched the Fighting Irish’s victory. Gomez was defeated 7-5, 6-4 at No. 5.

David Seyferth:

- Freshman Seyferth has turned in solid play so far in dual play with a 2-2 record at No. 6.

- Notable Win: The freshman earned his first victory in a three-set match against Ball State’s Jimmy Brannon. Seyferth bested Brannon 7-6 (0), 1-6, 1-0 (2).

- Notable Loss: Seyferth lost in a close match against Louisville’s Robert Rotaru 7-5, 7-5 at No. 6. It was Seyferth’s first loss of the season.

Other Players:

- Junior Philip Kafka won the only match he played in against University of Chicago’s Joseph Tchan. Kafka bested Tchan 6-3, 6-0 at No. 6.

- Freshman Andrew McCarthy has not participated in dual play and is sitting out due to injury.