Orange Notch Pair Of Top 15 Wins In Loss To No. 10 Duke

Sunday, February 23

11 a.m.

Syracuse University

No. 10 Duke

Nelly Knezkova and Miyuka Kimoto doubles celebration vs. Duke

Orange Notch Pair Of Top 15 Wins In Loss To No. 10 Duke

2/23/2025 1:50:00 PM | Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 32 ranked Syracuse women's tennis team (7-2, 0-2 ACC) lost in a hard-fought battle against No. 10 Duke (8-2, 2-0) on Sunday at Drumlins Country Club, falling 4-1.

Nelly Knezkova and Miyuka Kimoto upset the ITA's No. 11 ranked duo of Irna Balus and Ellie Coleman in doubles, and Kimoto also took down Balus, the No. 8 ranked individual in the current ITA standings, in singles.

However, the Orange fell short in the doubles point and the Blue Devils clinched the match with three victories in singles.

THE RUNDOWN

Knezkova and Kimoto earned a 6-3 victory at the No. 1 doubles position over Balus and Coleman, the No. 11 ranked ITA pairing. This was the pairing's first time playing together this season.
Kimoto was also victorious against Balus in singles, with a result of 7-5, 6-3, at the No. 1 spot. Balus had only lost at the No. 1 position once entering Sunday's contest. Kimoto improves to 5-1 on the season in singles with the victory, with four of the victories coming at the No. 1 spot.
Serafima Shastova won her first set against No. 27 Emma Jackson, 6-3, and led 6-5 in the second set before the match was halted at the No.4 spot.
At the No. 2 position, Knezkova earned the first set, 6-4, but fell short in the second, 3-6. Knezkova entered a third set for just the second time this season before the match was declared unfinished with Knezkova trailing 0-2 in the decider.
Duke won at the Nos. 3, 5 and 6 spots to secure the victory.
The Blue Devils now lead 15-0 in the all-time series against the Orange.

UP NEXT
Syracuse plays Miami on Friday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m at Drumlins Country Club.

RESULTS
Singles

Miyuka Kimoto (SYR) def. No. 8 Irna Balus (DUKE) 7-5, 6-3
Nelly Knezkova (SYR) vs. Liv Hovde (DUKE) 6-4, 3-6, 0-2, unfinished
No. 27 Emma Jackson (DUKE) def. Anastasia Sysoeva (SYR) 6-4, 6-4
Serafima Shastova (SYR) vs. No. 76 Shavit Kimchi (DUKE) 6-3, 6-5, unfinished
No. 76 Shavit Kimchi (DUKE) def. Shiori Ito (SYR) 6-2, 6-1
Ellie Coleman (DUKE) def. Monika Wojcik (SYR) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles

Nelly Knezkova/Miyuka Kimoto (SYR) def. No.11 Irna Balus/Ellie Coleman (DUKE) 6-3
Shavit Kimchi/Eleana Yu (DUKE) def. Monika Wojcik/Serafima Shastova (SYR) 6-3
Emma Jackson/ Liv Hovde (DUKE) def. Anastasia Sysoeva/Shiori Ito (SYR) 6-3

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,1,3)

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