Double woes persist, catapult Syracuse to 1-9 start in ACC play
Syracuse's 1-9 start to Atlantic Coast Conference play has been propelled by its disastrous showing in doubles matches, winning just 25%. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor
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Throughout the fall, Syracuse head coach Younes Limam said he made a calculated effort to prioritize doubles play, an area the Orange have struggled in recent years. A season ago, SU finished 25-29 in doubles after going 19-3 in nonconference play.
However, Syracuse began the 2025 season 7-0 in nonconference play largely due to its success in doubles. Like last year, the Orange’s doubles play spiraled in Atlantic Coast Conference play, sinking their record below .500.
In conference play, Syracuse (8-9, 1-9 ACC) has won just 25% of its doubles matches compared to a 79% clip in nonconference play. To avoid its fourth losing record in five seasons, SU must put together strong doubles performances against its two remaining opponents.
Though the Orange have been competitive in conference play, that’s not enough to win in a stacked ACC.
“I don’t think there is a problem,” Limam said about Syracuse’s doubles play following its 4-1 loss to then-No. 10 Duke on Feb. 23. “I think it’s just the results. Unfortunately, it doesn’t show it yet, but I’m very pleased on how we played with a lot of intensity.”
The Orange face Louisville and Notre Dame next. Louisville is just 8-16 in conference play doubles, while Notre Dame is 14-12.
Although the doubles point accounts for just 15% of the total points in a match, it’s been the difference maker for SU. After losing in doubles to North Carolina in its ACC opener, Syracuse had a chance to bounce back against Duke.
First, Nelly Knezkova and Miyuka Kimoto beat the then-No. 11 doubles team in the country, Ellie Coleman and Irina Balus, 6-3. With the victory, the Orange needed to win one of the two remaining matches to earn the doubles point. Shiori Ito and Anastasia Sysoeva were tied at 3-3 in their match but failed to win. And Duke won four out of the final five games to beat Serafima Shastova and Monika Wojcik.
Wojcik and Shastova, SU’s most consistent doubles duo in conference play, rebounded against Miami on Feb. 28. Though it lost the No. 2 doubles match, Syracuse had a prime opportunity to claim the doubles point against the Hurricanes, who were 1-4 heading into the match.
But Knezkova and Kimoto faltered down the stretch. After the duo won three of the first four games, Miami stormed back to take a 6-5 lead. From there, Knezkova hit back-to-back returns out of bounds to give Miami the doubles point. It proved to be the difference in the match, as Syracuse fell 4-3.
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To ignite success in doubles play, Limam rolled the dice on seven different pairings in conference matches.
Against Florida State on March 2, it appeared Limam found the spark Syracuse needed. Constance Levivier, a junior who hadn’t seen action since Feb. 8, played alongside Sysoeva. The duo handled Florida State’s Millie Bissett and Laura Putz. Shastova and Wojcik followed with a win to clinch the doubles point, and the Orange carried that momentum into singles. The teams split the six singles matches, but the early edge made all the difference in a 4-3 Orange victory.
However, Levivier’s addition to the lineup didn’t spark lasting success. Since their win over FSU, she and Sysoeva have gone 0-3 as a pairing. Meanwhile, Knezkova and Kimoto have also stumbled. Despite notching a marquee win over Duke’s top duo, they’ve dropped five straight since.
A road trip out west did not fix Syracuse’s poor play. The Orange won just one doubles match out of six against Stanford and California.
With the ACC Tournament looming, Syracuse faced the Hokies. The Orange and Hokies split the first two doubles matches, so the doubles point came down to Kimoto and Sysoeva against Arina Gamretkaia and Tara Gorinsek. VT clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 win.
SU’s most recent match against Virginia on Sunday was a microcosm of its 2025 doubles play. Playing against the No. 1 tandem in the country, two doubles — Elaine Chervinsky and Melodie Collard, Knezkova and Kimoto — were competitive, falling 6-4, but Syracuse was swept in doubles and went on to lose 4-1.
“Margins, as you guys see, are very small, and the difference is very small,” Limam said postgame.
Just as he did against Virginia, Limam may opt to roll out new doubles pairings in Syracuse’s final two games against Louisville and Notre Dame. It could determine if SU finishes the season with a successful ACC Tournament run.
