Location: Durham, N.C.
Records: VCU 0-1, No. 8 Duke 1-0

The short story: VCU Men's Tennis played its first dual match of the young season at No. 8 Duke. Although the Rams won three out of six singles, the Blue Devils took the doubles point to ultimately come away with the close 4-3 win.

Opening serve:

• The Rams lined up against opponents ranked in doubles, with Oscar Pinto Sansano and German Samofalov fighting hard to a 4-5 unfinished match.
• VCU fell in the other two doubles in close matches, both 6-4
• Currently ranked at 78, junior Mathis Bondaz took down No. 18 Pedro Rodenas for a big win in singles
• Romain Gales came back after dropping the first set for his win in singles

Singles competition

1. Johns, Garrett (Duke) def. #57 Matisse Bobichon (VCU) 6-3, 6-4
2. Mathis Bondaz (VCU) def. #18 Rodenas, Pedro (Duke) 5-7, 7-6 (9-7), 4-0, retired
3. Zhang, Andrew (Duke) def. Hamza El Amine (VCU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Oscar Pinto Sansano (VCU) def. Krug, Connor (Duke) 6-3, 6-1
5. Romain Gales (VCU) def. Dale, Andrew (DU) 5-7, 6-2, 7-5
6. Krug, Jake (Duke) def. German Samofalov (VCU) 0-6, 7-5, 7-5

Doubles competition

1. Johns, Garrett/Rodenas, Pedro (DU) def. Matisse Bobichon/Romain Gales 6-4
2. #14 Heller, Michael/Zhang, Andrew (DU) vs. Oscar Pinto Sansano/German Samofalov 4-5, unfinished
3. Krug, Connor/Khan, Faris (DU) def. Mathis Bondaz/Hamza El Amine 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,1,3,2,5,6)

Up next: VCU remains on the road for the ITA Kickoff Weekend on January 27 & 28, hosted by Mississippi. The Rams play their first home match on February 2nd at 3 p.m.