Dukes Win 4-3 Thriller over Furman to Cap Weekend in Richmond

Saturday, March 7

Richmond, Va.

11 a.m.

James Madison University

Furman

Dukes Win 4-3 Thriller over Furman to Cap Weekend in Richmond

3/7/2026 3:47:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – For the second consecutive day, James Madison men's tennis overcame a 2-0 deficit, winning four of the final five singles courts, to upend Furman by a 4-3 score on Saturday afternoon at the Westhampton Tennis Complex.

The Dukes (8-3) won their fourth in a row and improved to 4-1 this spring in matches decided by a 4-3 margin. JMU improved to 3-5 all-time against the Paladins (4-9), having now won the past two meetings versus FU.

JMU once again found itself down 2-0 before the rally began. The Dukes produced straight-set singles wins from Aurelien Schmitt, Gur Libal and Zach Fleishman before needing a three-set, comeback victory from Francisco Sinopoli.

With the match all square at 3-3, Sinopoli trailed Evan Duggal 5-4 in the final frame before mounting his comeback. After breaking Duggal to square the bout at 5-5, he held serve to go up 6-5. In the final game, he took control early and capped off JMU's victory with a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 triumph.

Furman took the early lead after winning two of three doubles matches. Fleishman and Harrison Lee claimed a 6-3 win against Alex Han and Barnabas Sift on court three, but the Paladins registered a 6-3 win on court one and a 6-4 victory on court two to clinch the doubles point.

In singles, Nico Snyder downed Esteve Agusti on court one by scores of 6-2, 6-3 to double FU's lead to 2-0.

JMU chipped away at the deficit, as Schmitt dominated the second set on court two to defeat Theophile Joly, 6-3, 6-1. Libal later tied the match at 2-2 on court six, producing a 6-3, 6-3 win over Landon Ecarma. It was Libal's sixth straight singles win.

The Dukes took their first lead of the day, at 3-2, as Fleishman rounded out his hometown weekend with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph against Walker Allen over on court five. Furman tied the match again at 3-3, as Nicolas Dispas edged Ryan Morgan by a 6-4, 6-4 margin on court three.

When Furman tied the match, it took a 5-4 lead in the third set moments later, setting up Sinopoli's furious comeback finish.

JMU is back in action on Sunday, March 15 when it begins its Spring Break trip at Stetson. The match in DeLand, Fla., is set for a 2 p.m. start.