Duke Men's Tennis Shines in 2024 NCAA Championships

Singles Competitions

Williams began his singles journey by facing Yale's Vignesh Gogineni and delivered a solid performance, securing a victory in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. His prowess was evident as he entered the match as a favorite, having been named ITA National Rookie of the Year and an ITA All-American during his freshman year at Harvard. However, his second-round match against fellow competitor Pedro Rodenas was a different story. Rodenas faced a tough challenge against No. 8-seed Aidan Kim of Ohio State and struggled to find his rhythm, losing in consecutive sets, 6-1, 6-3. Duke's singles play ended the first day with a split record, one win and one loss.

Williams then faced Texas' Timo Legout, seeded No. 9-16, in a marathon match. He started strong, rallying from a deficit to take the opening set in a tiebreaker. But Legout bounced back with a late break in the second set and controlled the decider to eliminate Duke from further play in the singles side of the tournament. Despite his best efforts, Williams couldn't overcome the challenges presented by his opponents.

Doubles Competitions

Williams and Columbia transfer Winegar formed the sole doubles team in contention for the Blue Devils and were seeded No. 5-8. In their first match, they had a dramatic comeback against Florida's Tanapatt Nirundorn and Henry Jefferson. After dropping the first set 1-6, they fought back to claim the second in a tiebreaker and then edged out the match with a remarkable rally in the third-set tiebreaker, sealing eight of the last nine points. This showcased their resilience and determination early in the season, highlighting their ability to stay composed under pressure and adapt to challenging situations.

In the Round of 16, they faced Ohio State's Bryce Nakashima and William Jansen in a tightly contested matchup. The first set saw both pairs trading early breaks, with the Blue Devils rallying to level the score at 3-3. But the Buckeyes capitalized on a late break to take the opening set. In the second set, Williams and Winegar showed their grit, matching Ohio State point for point and even breaking ahead to gain a 5-4 lead. However, the Buckeyes immediately responded with a break of their own, forcing a tiebreaker. Once there, Nakashima and Jansen took control, playing nearly flawless tennis to secure the set and the match.

This tournament concluded the fall season for the Blue Devils, and head coach Ramsey Smith's squad will now focus on spring competition. The team's performances in these championships have set the stage for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.