Waves Down Harvard, 5-2

MALIBU, Calif. Â The No. 13 Pepperdine men’s tennis team defeated a talented No. 43 Harvard team, 5-2, Saturday afternoon, at Ralphs-Strauss Tennis Center.

“This team gave us everything they had. It wasn’t an easy match,” said head coach Adam Steinberg. “They have lots of depth and some very talented players.”

The Waves (11-6) won the doubles point over Harvard (7-6) with wins in No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. James Lemke (Melbourne, Australia) and Mahmoud Kamel (Paris, France) defeated Dan Nguyen and Chris Clayton (Harvard), 8-2, in No. 3 doubles to finish first. The No. 2 team of Bassam Beidas (Cario, Egypt) and Rickus de Villiers defeated Alexei Chijoff-Evan and Michael Hayes (Harvard), 8-5, to clinch the doubles point for Pepperdine.

The No. 1 doubles team of Andre Begemann (Blomberg, Germany) and Omar Altmann (Cairo, Egypt) suffered their first loss in eight matches when Ashwin Kumar and Sasha Ermakov (Harvard) upset the No. 23 team, 8-5.

No. 123 Altmann came off a disappointing doubles loss to capture the first singles victory for the Pepperdine by defeating Ermakov (Harvard) in No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-1. No. 20 Beidas went to three sets before claiming a victory in No. 2 singles over Chris Clayton (Harvard), 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 and de Villiers clinched the match for the Waves by defeating Will Guzik (Harvard) in No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-4.

No. 10 Begemann played a long and grueling match against Kumar on the No. 1 court before finishing last for the Waves with a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3), victory.

“I was frustrated with our doubles match. We came out flat again and lost focus,” said Begemann. “They played very well and I knew Kumar was good player going into the singles match. We play with similar styles. I’m glad I fought back when I was down and won both matches.”

Next up, the Waves host Loyola Marymount, Wednesday, April 2, at 3 p.m., at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center.

 

Tennis Match Results

Harvard vs Pepperdine

 

Mar 29, 2008 at

#13 Pepperdine 5, #43 Harvard 2

 

Singles competition

1. #10 Andre Begemann (PEP) def. Ashwin Kumar (HARV) 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (8-3)

2. #20 Bassam Beidas (PEP) def. Chris Clayton (HARV) 6-4, 6-3

3. #123 Omar Altmann (PEP) def. Sash Ermakov (HARV) 6-2, 6-1

4. Dan Nguyen (HARV) def. James Lemke (PEP) 5-7, 3-2, retired

5. Aba Omodele-Lucien (HARV) def. Mahmoud Kamel (PEP) 6-4, 7-6 (8-5)

6. Johannes de Villiers (PEP) def. Will Guzick (HARV) 6-4, 6-4

 

Doubles competition

1. Ashwin Kumar/Sash Ermakov (HARV) def. #23 Omar Altmann/Andre Begemann (PEP) 8-5

2. Johannes de Villiers/Bassam Beidas (PEP) def Alexei Chijoff-Evans/Michael Hayes(HARV) 8-5

3. James Lemke/Mahmoud Kamel (PEP) def. Dan Nguyen/Chris Clayton (HARV) 8-2

Match Notes:

Harvard 7-5; National ranking #43

Pepperdine 10-6; National ranking #13

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,2,5,1

 

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