Michigan
Washington
Cooksey Battles to Clinch Win over Washington
3/9/2025 3:50:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Varsity Tennis Center)
Score: #18 Michigan 4, Washington 3
Records: U-M (8-6, 2-0 Big Ten), Washington (8-4, 0-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 14 -- at Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.), 5 p.m. CT
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Will Cooksey delivered in the clutch for the No. 18-ranked University of Michigan men's tennis team, winning at No. 3 singles to clinch a 4-3 victory over Washington on Sunday (March 9) at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Cooksey and Washington's Soham Purhoit took center stage in the decisive match. After winning the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-5), Cooksey dropped the second set 6-2. Purhoit gained an early break in the third set to take a 4-1 lead, but Cooksey went on a four-game run to overtake the lead, 5-4. Tied at 5-5, Cooksey served a perfect game to win the set 7-5 and the match to secure the team victory.
Michigan took the doubles point, with another shake-up to the pairings. Cooksey teamed with Patorn Hanchaikul for the first time this season, and the duo never trailed en route to a 6-3 victory at No. 3. At No. 1, Benjamin Kittay and Bjorn Swenson paired up for the first time, clinching the doubles point with a hard-fought 7-6 (2) win. Alex Cairo and Gavin Young were locked in a tiebreaker at No. 2 when their match was abandoned.
In singles play, the two teams split the six first sets, setting up a tight battle down the stretch. Washington picked up wins at No. 5 and No. 2, while Alex Cairo secured Michigan's first singles victory with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6, as the score stood at 2-2.
Patorn Hanchaikul dominated at No. 4, breaking serve four times in the opening set and taking the match 6-1, 6-2. A match violation on Washington's Nedim Suko gave Hanchaikul match point to secure the win.
The Huskies evened the score again at 3-3 when Cesar Bouchelaghem defeated No. 61-ranked Benjamin Kittay 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 singles. That left the outcome in Cooksey's hands at No. 3, where he completed the comeback to seal the Michigan victory.
Michigan continues its road trip next week, facing Nebraska on Friday (March 14) and Wisconsin on Sunday (March 16). The Wolverines return home on March 28 to host rival Ohio State at the Varsity Tennis Center.
Following are match-by-match results
Singles
No. 1 – Cesar Bouchelaghem (UW) d. No. 61 Benjamin Kittay (U-M) 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 – Dzianis Zharyn (UW) d. Bjorn Swenson (U-M) 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 – Will Cooksey (U-M) d. Soham Purhoit (UW) 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-5
No. 4 – Patorn Hanchaikul (U-M) d. Nedim Suko (UW) 6-1, 6-2
No. 5 – Ivan Sodan (UW) d. Nicholas Steiglehner (U-M) 6-3, 6-2
No. 6 – Alex Cairo (U-M) d. Rohan Belday (UW) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1 – Benjamin Kittay/Bjorn Swenson (U-M) d. Cesar Bouchelaghem/Dzianis Zharyn (UW) 7-6 (2)
No. 2 – Alex Cairo/Gavin Young (U-M) vs. Soham Purhoit/Nedim Suko (UW) 6-6 abandoned
No. 3 – Will Cooksey/Patorn Hanchaikul (U-M) d. Rohan Belday/Brett Pearson (UW) 6-3
Order of Completion: Doubles 3-1; Singles 5-6-2-4-1-3
Players Mentioned
