Singles spots to play key
role in Wisconsin, Purdue match
By Doug Healey
Staff
Writer
Purdue men's tennis coach Tim Madden will return
to his alma mater on Sunday.
Madden will reunite with his former coach, Pat
Klingelhoets, as his No. 46 Boilers (11-5, 3-2 Big Ten) travel to No.
52 Wisconsin (10-6, 2-2 Big Ten) for a noon match with the Badgers,
who are coming off a 4-3 loss to No. 50 Michigan last Sunday.
As a member of the Badgers' tennis team, Madden
was a three-time All Big Ten selection, as well as the team's captain
and most valuable player his junior and senior season. He graduated
with 23 team records and is second all-time in career singles victories.
"I'm very proud of the experience I had under Klingelhoets,"
said Madden. "It still feels like home going there, but I want to make
sure we take care of business while we're there."
Madden said it will be a competitive atmosphere.
"The important thing is that he knows he is going
to have a battle on his hands because he instilled in me a lot of competitiveness,"
said Madden. "I just want to make sure he understands that he has created
a monster and we're going to come after him."
Even though the Boilers are coming off a tough
loss to No. 15 Illinois, they are using it as motivation.
"We are going to try to use that to get us back
on track," said Madden. "We have taken preparation very seriously this
week, so hopefully we get off to a good start."
Madden said the key will be singles play against
Wisconsin, whose lineup is balanced similarly to the Boilers.
"The issue for us has been more singles," he said.
"We need to make sure we can get productive points one through six."
One of the consistent singles players for the Boilers
has been senior Jason Marshall, the two-time defending Big Ten singles
champion.
At No. 1 singles, Marshall will play Danny Westerman
of Wisconsin, who has won six straight singles matches.
Madden is looking forward to watching the two play.
"It will be a lot of high power tennis," said Madden.
"Both guys are at the top of the conference."
Doubles has been the team's strong point. The Boilermakers
lost their first doubles point of the spring against Illinois, ending
a streak of 14 consecutive doubles points.
Although the Boilers are coming off a loss, Madden
said the team is moving in a positive direction.
"We look at each match as an opportunity to elevate
our confidence level," he said. "The guys decided to raise the bar."
Although they compete against one another, Madden
and Klingelhoets are good friends when the match terminates.
"I still have a great relationship with him," said
Madden. "As long as we win, everything's good."
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