PHILADELPHIA -  Freshman Kevin Zhu completed a comeback for the ages on Sunday afternoon as the University of Pennsylvania advanced to 13-0 at home this season. Down, 5-3, in a deciding third set with the overall match tied, 3-3, and clinging to any chance of a comeback, Kevin Zhu rallied off four straight games to win, 7-5, and clinch the match against Temple for the Quakers. Earlier in the day, Penn breezed past Delaware, 6-1. 

How it Happened

After a week-long break, the Quakers got back into action on Sunday in a double-header against Delaware and Temple. The Red and Blue struck first against the Blue Hens. Penn took first and second doubles, 6-2, to secure the doubles point. 

The Quakers took that momentum into singles. Zhu lost just three games in a 6-2, 6-1 victory while Noah Makarome also won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 to make it 3-0 for the Quakers. Jeff Zucker clinched the match for Penn with a 6-4, 6-3 win at number four singles. 

Against Temple, once again it was the Red and Blue that grabbed the early lead in doubles. The Quakers took first and second doubles, 6-3, to take the doubles point. 

Like against the Blue Hens, Penn got the early jump in singles as well. Makarome and Jonah Jurick recorded straight-set wins to put Penn up, 3-0. Makarome continued his perfect day, winning 7-5, 6-4, while Jurick came out victorious, 6-2, 6-2. 

Unlike Delaware, Temple climbed back. With wins at one, four, and five singles, the Owls tied the overall match, 3-3 with one match left to play. 

The match would lie on the racket of Penn freshman Kevin Zhu. Zhu lost the first set in a tiebreak, but after a late break of serve in set two, the freshman evened the match at a set apiece. Zhu continued that momentum in the deciding set, getting an early break to go up, 2-0. However, like the match in which Penn grabbed an early lead and saw it slip, Zhu saw his early lead disappear as he was broken in two of his next three service games to go down, 5-3. 

Looking to get a late break to stay in the match, Zhu won a couple of early points to earn break points. On his third try, the freshman converted and then consolidated on his serve to take a 6-5 lead in the decider. Zhu kept in going after the change of ends and on match point he hit a winner on a passing shot to clinch the, 4-3, win over the Owls for the Quakers. 

Up Next

The Quakers will have a week off before they begin Ivy League play at Princeton on March 30. 

Full Results

Penn 6, Delaware 1

D1: Graziani/Zhu (PENN) def. Wilkinson/Molina (DEL) - 6-2
D2: Cancilla/Smithline (PENN) def. Casselbury/Jones (DEL) - 6-2
D3: Benyowitz/Lankes (DEL) vs. Jurick/Funk (PENN) - DNF

S1: Edoardo Graziani (PENN) def. James Wilkinson (DEL) - 7-6, 3-6, 1-0 (8)
S2: Kevin Zhu (PENN) def. Luis Molina (DEL) - 6-2, 6-1
S3: Noah Makarome (PENN) def. Guilherme Valdoleiros (DEL) - 6-2, 6-2
S4: Jeffrey Zucker (PENN) def. Blaise Casselbury (DEL) - 6-4, 6-3
S5: Jonah Jurick (PENN) def. Nathan Benyowitz (DEL) - 7-5, 6-4
S6: Milo Nagle (DEL) def. Kaden Funk (PENN) - 1-6, 6-3, 3-6

Penn 4, Temple 3

D1: Graziani/Mautner (PENN) def. Casas/Wallner (TU) - 6-3
D2: Cancilla/Smithline (PENN) def. Dorash/Cucalon (TU) - 6-3
D3: Biscoveanu/Haelen (TU) vs. Zucker/Zhu (PENN) - DNF

S1: Alberto Caceres Casas (TU) def. Edoardo Graziani (PENN) - 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
S2: Kevin Zhu (PENN) def. Mark Wallner (TU) - 6-7, 6-3, 7-5
S3: Noah Makarome (PENN) def. Uladzimir Dorash (TU) - 7-5, 6-4
S4: Paolo Cucalon (TU) def. Max Cancilla (PENN) - 6-3, 7-6
S5: Eric Biscoveanu (TU) def. Jeffrey Zucker (PENN) - 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
S6: Jonah Jurick (PENN) def. Enzo Giusfredi De Brida (TU) - 6-2, 6-2