Elon University Athletics

ATHENS, Ga. – The Elon men's tennis team (8-13) fell 4-0 to No. 12 Georgia (19-8) on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Dan Magill Tennis Center.
 
Georgia secured the doubles point with wins on Courts 2 and 3, though Elon delivered a strong performance at the top spot, holding a lead throughout and narrowly securing a victory on Court 1 over the nation's No. 3 ranked duo before being halted at match point.
 
In singles, the Phoenix pushed multiple courts deep, forcing three first-set tiebreaks, but was unable to break through. The Bulldogs capitalized by taking the opening sets across the lineup and closed out three straight singles wins to clinch the match.
 
The Rundown

• Elon battled in doubles, highlighted by a strong showing at Court 1 where Veljko Krstic and Nikola Parichkov led the nation's No. 3-ranked team of Arda Azkara and Santiago Giamichelle throughout the match.
• The Phoenix also remained competitive on Courts 2 and 3 before ultimately dropping the doubles point.
• Georgia struck first with a win on Court 3, but Elon kept Court 2 tight early as Jack Curtis and Rafael Ymer held serve to stay level at 2-2 against Will Jansen and Gabriele Vulpitta. The Bulldogs then took control with three consecutive games, including a break on a deuce point, to move ahead 5-2. Elon responded by saving two match points to extend the contest, but Georgia closed it out in the next game before the Phoenix could finish on Court 1.
• At the top spot, Krstic and Parichkov jumped out to a 3-0 lead after securing an early break. Georgia held to get on the board, but Parichkov delivered a sharp cross-court return to force deuce in the next game before finishing it with an ace for a 4-1 Elon lead. From there, both sides traded holds until Georgia broke at 5-4. Elon had multiple match points in a final push, but the Bulldogs ultimately sealed the doubles point on Court 2 before the 10th game could be finished.
• In singles, Krstic, Curtis and Charles Pilet each forced first-set tiebreaks, but Georgia claimed all six opening sets across the lineup. Curtis opened his second set with a hold before his match was halted while trailing 3-2. Pilet also showed a late surge, rallying from 2-0 down to win five of his next six games, including three breaks, to go up 5-3 in the second set before his match was stopped.
• Georgia closed the match with straight set wins on Courts 2, 4 and 5 to clinch the victory.
• After winning its second CAA championship last month, the Phoenix finishes its 2026 campaign with a 8-13 record. This was Elon's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.

 
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Results
Singles
1. No. 50 Arda Azkara (Georgia) vs. Veljko Krstic (Elon) 7-6 (2), 5-2, unfinished
2. No. 36 Will Jansen (Georgia) def. Rafael Ymer (Elon) 7-5, 6-0
3. Santiago Giamichelle (Georgia) vs. Jack Curtis (Elon) 7-6 (0), 3-2, unfinished
4. Derrick Chen (Georgia) def. Oskar Antinheimo (Elon) 6-3, 6-2
5. Noah Johnston (Georiga) def. Nikola Parichkov (Elon) 6-2, 7-5
6. Gabriele Vulpitta (Georgia) vs. Charles Pilet (Elon) 7-6 (3), 3-5, unfinished
 
Doubles
1. Veljko Krstic/Nikola Parichkov (Elon) vs. No. 3 Arda Azkara/Santiago Giamichelle (Georgia) 5-4, unfinished
2. Will Jansen/Gabriele Vulpitta (Georgia) def. Jack Curtis/Rafael Ymer (Elon) 6-3
3. Noah Johnston/Derrick Chen (Georgia) def. Oskar Antinheimo/Nick Fisk (Elon) 6-2
 
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,4,2)