The independent news organization of Duke University
They say the devil is in the details. But in Durham, the Blue Devils are in the details—and numbers.
Raise the banner. For the first time since 2012, the Blue Devils have won the ACC championship after defeating Virginia 4-1 in the title match at the ACC tournament in Rome, Ga.
The Blue Devils didn’t get the spark they wanted after decisively winning the doubles point of the ACC tournament semifinals, and though they battled back from losing all but one opening set in the singles, No. 2-seed Duke and No. 3-seed Miami were tied 3-3 with just one match still going.
Kelly Chen fell to her knees, dropped her racket and let loose a cry of emotion. The Blue Devils had taken down undefeated, top-ranked North Carolina, and Chen had just pushed her team over the edge.
Ever since the team’s return to North Carolina, Duke has found its groove. This past weekend was no different.
Playing against Notre Dame on the road, the No. 8 Blue Devils won decisively, outscoring the Fighting Irish 5-2.
Beginning with a 4-3 victory against the Buckeyes Friday, Jan. 21, the Blue Devils improved throughout the competitions and finished the weekend with a second triumph, a 4-2 decision against the Tigers.
Duke kicked off its spring season this weekend at the Michigan Invitational, squaring off against No. 12 Ohio State, No. 16 Michigan and Notre Dame over three days of match play.
It may still be winter, but spring sports are about to get off and running. For The Chronicle's first spring sport preview of 2021, we've got Duke women's tennis, which is poised for another successful season after an NCAA quarterfinal fun last year.
Chloe Beck may have been the only new player to join the team in the fall of 2019, but she has proven since then that even the smallest recruiting classes can be the most outstanding.
While the women’s tennis team’s season ended with its loss to North Carolina in the Elite Eight last week, six Blue Devils were able to compete in the NCAA Individual Championship.
Confidence was at its peak for the Blue Devils as they faced off against the rival Tar Heels. Unfortunately, North Carolina's play was also at its peak.
Beck’s refuse-to-lose mindset got her far in the match against Levashova, with the match truly becoming mental as both players visibly began to wilt as time went on while they continued relentless back-and-forth rallying.
All eyes were on Chen for the third set of her singles match against Baylor, as all the other matches had concluded in straight sets before the senior had a chance to wrap up in Waco, Texas.
As one of the top-15 teams in the nation and members of a strong conference, the Blue Devils headed to Rome, Ga. with the No. 5-seed in the ACC tournament.
The Blue Devils started off the afternoon by snagging the doubles point, but many of the singles matches came very close toward the end, with three courts playing all the way to seven games and Duke managing to win four of the six singles matches.
The Blue Devils entered Friday having lost their last five matches to their Tobacco Road rivals. That streak has now been extended to six.
Duke's only two losses this season have come to Georgia Tech.
Despite a disappointing start to the season, it looks like the Blue Devils are back on track.
Saturday was a sign that spring tennis truly is underway. And right on cue, the Blue Devils are hitting their stride as a team.