Box Score SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The San Francisco Dons took a 4-2 decision against Portland in high winds Friday afternoon at the California Tennis Club. The teams navigated heavy, 20-plus mile per hour winds throughout the match.

"We really struggled with the conditions today," Portland head coach Aaron Gross said. "It was super windy and we didn't adjust as quick as they did. Credit to San Francisco – they played well, but we left some big points on the table."

Portland opened the match by winning a hard-fought doubles point. The Dons took No. 3 doubles easily, but the No. 1 tandem of Eleftherios Neos and Issa Yoshida claimed a 6-3 win at the top spot. Sema Pankin and Nikolas Tvedt then won in a tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles to give the Pilots the early lead.

Nicklas Oberg gave Portland a 2-0 lead with a comfortable straight sets win against Ori Maior at No. 4 singles, but then San Francisco took over.

Nitzan Ricklis defeated Sema Panking 6-3,6-3 at the No. 1 position and then Phuc Huynh posted a 6-3, 6-3 win against Issa Yoshida at No. 3 singles to tie the match.

Mitch Johnson put the Dons ahead with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Leo Hibi at No. 6 and then Paul Giraud clinched by winning a pair of tiebreakers against Neos at No. 2 singles.

Stevie Gould was leading Tvedt 4-1 in the third set at No. 5 in the only unfinished match.

"This is all part of the learning process with a group of guys that are going to be together for a couple of more years," Gross added. "These are valuable lessons. Painful lessons, because I think we still could've found a way to win, but we're back at it tomorrow."

Portland will continue the road trip with a match at Santa Clara on Saturday at 11 a.m. Live stats and video links will be available at PortlandPilots.com.

San Francisco 4, Portland 2
San Francisco, Calif. (California Tennis Club)
April 9, 2021

Singles
1. Nitzan Ricklis (USF) def. Sema Pankin (POR) 6-3, 6-3
2. Paul Giraud (USF) def. Eleftherios Neos (POR) 7-6, 7-6
3. Phuc Huynh (USF) def. Issa Yoshida (POR) 6-3, 6-3
4. Nicklas Oberg (POR) def. Ori Maior (USF) 6-1, 6-2
5. Nikolas Tvedt (POR) vs. Stevie Gould (USF) 4-6, 6-3, 1-4, unfinished
6. Mitch Johnson (USF) def. Leo Hibi (POR) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles
1. Neos/Yoshida (POR) def. Giraud/Maior (USF) 6-3
2. Pankin/Tvedt (POR) def. Gould/Huynh (USF) 7-6 (7)
3. Johan Garpered/Ricklis (USF) def. Oberg/Hibi (POR) 6-1
 
Match Notes
Portland 8-4, 2-2 WCC
San Francisco 6-6, 1-3 WCC
Order of Finish: (Singles: 4,1,3,6,2; Doubles: 3,1,2)