Any team with talent can win the easy matches, but it takes more than talent to win the tight ones. At this weekend’s Blue Gray Invitational, by locking up a 4-2 quarterfinal win over No. 35 Boise State and a thrilling 4-3 semifinal victory over No. 21 North Carolina, the No. 14 Harvard men’s tennis team showed grit.

“We used to lose the closer matches,” said captain David Lingman after Saturday’s gripping match against the Tar Heels, “and we’re finally winning them.”

But it was associate coach Peter Mandeau who assessed the situation best only moments after the Crimson’ second victory improved its record to 9-2.

“Unbelievable,” he said. “I almost can’t talk.”

HARVARD 4, UNC 3

“Today was a nail biter in every way,” said junior Jonathan Chu when the dust had settled at the Lagoon Park Tennis Club in Montgomery, Ala.

He wasn’t kidding.

Saturday’s was a marathon match which came down to the final set. It began with Harvard winning the doubles point on the rackets of seniors Chris Chiou and Cliff Nguyen, who had played together a grand total of once before a 9-7 point-clinching win.

Entering the match against UNC (11-2, 1-0 ACC), the Crimson had dropped two of the last four doubles points after beginning the season 5-1 in pairs play.

Harvard had never shown any hesitation in singles play, however, often breezing through opponents with little difficulty.

But Saturday proved a challenge.

Freshman Jack Li, who has been a solid singles player all season long, lost a tough 6-2, 7-6(8) battle. Li was joined by classmate Gideon Valkin, the first time the Crimson has played two freshmen in the singles lineup this season.

Playing in his first dual meet, Valkin manned the sixth slot and offered a valiant effort before falling 7-5, 7-5.

“[The overall meet was] very tense,” Fish said, “and UNC looked like it was in control. [They had] the ones they needed on their rackets.”

The Tar Heels had either won or led in four singles matches—close enough to smell a team victory.