The University of Louisville men’s tennis team wrapped up its fall season with an impressive performance at the Notre Dame Invitational, a tournament played in a unique hidden dual format. Doubles tandems competed first, then split off to face each other in singles play.
The Cardinals achieved a 5-2 record in doubles over the weekend. Sophomore duo Miguel Avendaño and Kosuke Nakanishi went on a three-match winning streak, defeating teams from Ohio State, Illinois, and Notre Dame to reach the championship match before narrowly falling. Junior pair Will Mayew and Enrique Peña also impressed, posting a 2-1 record with victories over Michigan and Northwestern.
In singles, both Mayew and Avendaño had standout performances, each going 3-1 and winning all three of their matches in straight sets. Nakanishi defeated an Illinois player 6-1, 6-3, while Peña mirrored that score in a win over an opponent from Northwestern.
Louisville men’s tennis has now concluded its fall season and will return to action in January for the start of the NCAA team championship season.
Friday, Nov. 1 – Results
Nad/Llorens (ND) def. Mayew/Peña (UL) 7-5
Nakanishi/Avendaño (UL) def. Day/Yakubov (OSU) 6-3
Mayew/Peña (UL) def. Cairo/Cooksey (MICH) 6-4
Avendaño/Nakanishi (UL) def. Zhang/Bowers (ILL) 6-4
Llorens (ND) def. Peña (UL) 6-4, 7-5
Mayew (UL) def. Nad (ND) 7-6 (5), 6-4
Day (OSU) def. Nakanishi (UL) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10)
Avendaño (UL) def. Yakubo (OSU) 6-4, 6-1
Saturday, Nov. 2 – Results
Mayew/Peña (UL) def. Bengtsson/Megargee (NW) 6-2
Nakanishi/Avendaño (UL) def. Thompson/Magimay (ND) 6-2
Mayew (UL) def. Cairo (UM) 6-3, 7-5
Cooksey MICH) def. Peña (UL) 6-4, 6-1
Bowers (ILL) def. Avendaño (UL) 6-2, 6-4
Nakanishi (UL) def. Zhang (ILL) 6-1, 6-3
Mayew (UL) def. Bengtsson (NW) 7-5, 6-3
Peña (UL) def. Megargee (NW) 6-1, 6-3
Thompson (ND) def. Nakanishi (UL) 6-4, 6-4
Avendaño (UL) def. Magimay (ND) 7-6 (8), 6-0
Sunday, Nov. 3 – Results
Stearns/Carpico (OSU) def. Nakanishi/Avendaño (UL) 6-3
Stearns (OSU) def. Nakanishi (UL) 1-6, 6-4, 1-0 (3)
Avendaño (UL) def. Carpico (OSU) 7-5, 6-1
Rakmatuallayev (MSU) def. Mayew (UL) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (5)
Sheldon (MSU) def. Peña 7-6 (6), 7-5
