STANFORD, Calif. – California had its modest two-match winning streak snapped in Friday's Big Slam, as No. 4 Stanford defeated the No. 31 Golden Bears, 4-0, at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
 
The Cardinal clinched the victory when No. 57 Axel Geller beat Cal senior J.T. Nishimura, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, at court-two singles.

Cal's record is now 10-7 overall and 2-3 in the Pac-12 Conference. Stanford is 18-2 (5-1 Pac-12).

"Disappointing loss for us today as we got behind early by losing the doubles point," said Peter Wright, Cal's Director of Men's Tennis. "We struggled to find the right rhythm at the start of the singles, but we battled to bring things back into line. The scoreline was 4-0 in the end, but we had opportunities to make it a lot closer than that. Stanford came through with some good tennis at the top two spots."
 
Three singles matches went unfinished, and the Bears won a set on each of those courts: Freshman Jack Molloy led Stanford's 87th-ranked Sameer Kumar, 7-6(7), 3-3, on court three, freshman Paul Barretto was going to a third set with the Cardinal's David Wilczynski on court five, and freshman Jacob Brumm was playing a third set with Stanford's Michael Genender on court six.
 
But a massive comeback wasn't to be.
 
Wright added, "We'll learn from this match, regroup, and we'll be ready for our final home matches of the year next weekend at against Washington and Oregon."
 
The Bears host Washington on April 20 at 5 p.m. and then host Oregon on April 21 at 1 p.m. at the Hellman Tennis Complex. Cal will celebrate McManus Legends Day and Senior Day on April 21, which will also feature Cal Day on campus.

No. 4 Stanford (18-2, 5-1 Pac-12) defeated No. 31 California (10-7, 2-3 Pac-12), 4-0
April 13, 2018, in Berkeley, Calif.
Taube Family Tennis Stadium
 
Doubles
1. No. 88 Michael Genender/Sameer Kumar (Stanford) def. No. 20 Billy Griffith/J.T. Nishimura (Cal) (Stanford), 6-4*
2. No. 23 Tom Fawcett/Axel Geller (Stanford) def. Ben Draper/Jack Molloy (Cal), 6-2
3. Eric Fomba/David Wilczynski (Stanford) def. Dominic Barretto/Can Kaya (Cal), 6-4
 
Stanford won the doubles point
 
Order of Finish: 2, 1*, 3
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Singles
1. No. 8 Tom Fawcett (Stanford) def. No. 56 Billy Griffith (Cal) 6-3, 6-4
2. No. 57 Axel Geller (Stanford) def. J.T. Nishimura (Cal), 4-6, 6-2, 6-1^
3. Jack Molloy (Cal) vs. No. 87 Sameer Kumar (Stanford), 7-6(7), 3-3 Unfinished
4. Eric Fomba (Stanford) def. Ben Draper (Cal), 6-1, 6-3
5. David Wilczynski (Stanford) vs. Paul Barretto (Cal), 6-3, 3-6 Unfinished
6. Michael Genender (Stanford) vs. Jacob Brumm (Cal), 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 Unfinished
 
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 2^
^Clinched the overall match