LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 12 Harvard men's tennis (22-7, 6-1 Ivy) saw its 2023-24 season come to a close this afternoon as it dropped a Sweet 16 battle to No. 5 Kentucky (27-2, 12-0 SEC), 4-2. 

How it Happened

Kentucky stuck first, taking the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and 2 positions despite the Crimson fighting at every spot. 

Harvard quickly got on the board in singles as Daniel Milavsky put up a dominant performance at the No. 3 spot.  While dropping just two games in two sets against Jaden Weekes (Kentucky), Milavsky was able to even the score for the Crimson. 

The Wildcats responded and pulled within a point of clinching the match with wins at the No. 4 and 6 positions despite tight 7-5 second set decisions on both courts. 

Henry von der Schulenburg collected the final win of the day for Havard by winning four straight games in the second set to down No. 80 Joshua Lapadat (Kentucky) in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4. 

The Crimson and the Wildcats saw the final two outstanding matches go to a third set and Cooper Williams and Rohan Murali both staged comebacks with second set victories.  Ultimately, Kentucky was able to prevail as No. 28 Taha Baadi (Kentucky) took the top-30 battle at court one, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. 

By falling, the historic 2023-24 season comes to a close for the Crimson.  The squad finishes the year with a 22-7 record, marking the most wins under Andrew Rueb '95, its third straight Ivy title, and its second straight trip to the Sweet 16. 

Harvard Highlights

• The Crimson caps off its season with a record of 22-7, marking the most wins for the Scott Mead '77 Head Coach for Harvard Men's Tennis, Andrew Rueb '95. 
• After not making the Sweet 16 since 2004, this year marked the Crimson second straight appearance in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. 
• Milavsky closed out a strong junior season with a dominant victory at the No. 3 position this afternoon.  The Crimson junior ends the year with an overall record of 22-9 including 18 dual season singles victories. 
• Henry von der Schulenburg capped off an outstanding Harvard career by collecting a straight set victory at the No. 2 spot, marking his 13^th win of the season. 

Results

Harvard – 2, Kentucky – 4
Doubles

1. No. 4 Joshua Lapadat/JJ Mercer (Kentucky) def. No. 19 Daniel Milavsky/Cooper Williams (Harvard), 6-3
2. Taha Baddi/Jack Loutit (Kentucky) def. Melchior Delloye/Ronan Jachuck (Harvard), 6-4
3. Masato Perera/Henry von der Schulenburg (Harvard) vs. Jaden Weekes/Eli Stephenson (Kentucky), DNF 5-6

Order of finish: 2, 1
Singles

1. No. 28 Taha Baadi (Kentucky) def. No. 15 Cooper Williams (Harvard), 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
2. No. 66 Henry von der Schulenburg (Harvard) def. No. 80 Joshua Lapadat (Kentucky), 7-5, 6-4
3. Daniel Milavsky (Harvard) def. Jaden Weekes (Kentucky), 6-0, 6-2
4. Charlelie Cosnet (Kentucky) def. Ronan Jachuck (Harvard), 6-4, 7-5
5. Rohan Murali (Harvard) vs. Jack Loutit (Kentucky), DNF 5-7, 6-3, 2-1
6. Eli Stephenson (Kentucky) def. Masato Perera (Harvard), 6-1, 7-5

Order of finish: 3, 6, 4, 2, 1

Next Up

While team competition has concluded for the Crimson, Cooper Williams and Daniel Milavsky will now head to Stillwater, Okla., to represent Harvard at the 2024 NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships. Williams will enter the singles draw as a seeded player and will team with Milavsky for the doubles tournament.  Competition will begin on Monday, May 20.