Wildcats Extend Win Streak to Six at Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Northwestern completed a 2-0 road trip this weekend by battling for a 4-2 win at Notre Dame on Sunday at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.

The 'Cats improved to 10-2 and dropped the Fighting Irish to 4-2. Notre Dame advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season with a 15-11 record in the ACC.

The Wildcats have now won six in a row, their longest win streak dating back to the start of the 2017 spring season, when the 'Cats opened with a nine-game winning streak. The 10-2 start is the best under Arvid Swan since 2016, when the 'Cats were 11-1. Both the 2017 and 2016 squads reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and the 2016 squad finished their season ranked No. 14.

Northwestern outlasted a talented Notre Dame team behind a crucial doubles point and strong third sets in a match that saw five of six singles contests go the distance.

The 'Cats got on the board early with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. Steven Forman and Felix Nordby won at No. 1, 6-3, while Natan Spear and Trice Pickens clinched the point with a 7-5 win at No. 3.

Simen Bratholm extended the lead to 2-0 with a quick 6-3, 6-2 win over Matthew Che at No. 2.

Despite first set leads from Forman and Brian Berdusco, all five remaining matches went to a third, including resilient second set efforts from Pickens, Nordby and Presley Thieneman.

Thieneman completed his comeback and was the first to claim a third set, giving the 'Cats a 3-0 lead on the scoreboard with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 4. His win came over Connor Fu, who went 13-10 last season splitting time between No. 4 and No. 5 singles.

Despite the 3-0 lead, Notre Dame was very much in the proceedings, and put the pressure on with points at No. 1 and No. 5.

Both Pickens and Berdusco were locked in tight third battles, with Pickens rallying from down a break to force a third set tiebreak at 6-6. Before that match finished, Berdusco slammed the door on the hosts at No. 6 with a clutch service game at 5-4. He saved two break points and took the decider at 40-40 for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win, which improved his record to 4-0 since joining the singles lineup at No. 6 two weeks ago.

Berdusco clinched the 4-2 win over Jean-Marc Malkowski, a Swiss international and top-75 rated junior who spent most of his 2021 freshman campaign at No. 5 singles.

The Wildcats will enjoy a week off before hitting the road again for a matchup against Vanderbilt next Sunday. The Commodores are 4-0 to start the season.

Full results from the match can be found below.

Northwestern Wildcats vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Feb 13, 2022 at South Bend, Ind.
(Eck Tennis Pavilion)

Northwestern Wildcats 4, Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2

Singles competition

1. Axel Nefve (ND-M) def. Steven Forman (NU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Simen Bratholm (NU) def. Matthew Che (ND-M) 6-3, 6-2
3. Aditya Vashistha (ND-M) vs. Trice Pickens (NU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-6, unfinished
4. Presley Thieneman (NU) def. Connor Fu (ND-M) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
5. Peter Conklin (ND-M) def. Felix Nordby (NU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-0
6. Russell Berdusco (NU) def. Jean-Marc Malkowski (ND-M) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Steven Forman/Felix Nordby (NU) def. Matthew Che/Axel Nefve (ND-M) 6-3
2. Peter Conklin/Matthew Halpin (ND-M) def. Russell Berdusco/Simen Bratholm (NU) 6-3
3. Natan Spear/Trice Pickens (NU) def. Connor Fu/Jean-Marc Malkowski (ND-M) 7-5

Match Notes:
Order of finish
Doubles - 1,2,3* Singles - 2,4,1,5,6*

Wildcats Extend Win Streak to Six at Notre Dame

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Brian Berdusco

Russell Berdusco

Simen Bratholm

Steven Forman

Felix Nordby

Trice Pickens

Natan Spear

Presley Thieneman

Northwestern University Athletics