Since the beginning of the Big Ten season, the Illinois men’s tennis team has looked forward to playing – and hopefully beating – Ohio State.

On Sunday, the Illini topped the Buckeyes 5-2 at the Atkins Tennis Center.

“I thought that it would be a lot closer than it was,” said Illinois head coach Craig Tiley.

Last season, the Illini narrowly escaped a 4-3 victory over the Buckeyes. This year, the men’s results never seemed to be in doubt.

“Usually they’re a more feisty Ohio State team,” said Illinois junior Pramod Dabir. “This year they didn’t have as much fight as they usually do.”

The Illini scored the first point. Freshman Kevin Anderson and Dabir clinched the doubles point with an 8-5 victory over Joey Atas and Drew Eberly.

“I’m definitely excited about the way I played,” Dabir said.

Illinois split their results on the other courts in doubles.

Junior Ryler DeHeart and sophomore GD Jones lost to the No. 1 team of Scott Green and Ross Wilson.

“We had some chances early on and didn’t convert,” DeHeart said. “I don’t think we ever really got in the match after that.”

Senior Chris Martin and freshman Ryan Rowe set up the point-clinching doubles match with an 8-2 win over Devin Mullings and Chris Klingemann.

It was Rowe’s first match since he broke his left (serving) hand before the Indiana match on March 5.

Early in the season, the Illini struggled with the doubles point, but Tiley said he is pleased with the team’s turn around.

Despite clinching the doubles point, the Illini believed they would be in for a hard-fought battle in singles. The battle never happened.

“Last year was so wild, and this year’s was pretty comfortable, really,” Jones said. “It was a completely different match than last year.

“I guess that shows how much we’ve improved in relation to them – because we lost three of our best players and they only lost one – we’re doing more right things than them.”

DeHeart, who was playing in his third Ohio State vs. Illinois clash, agreed with Jones.

“They’re a solid team,” DeHeart said. “But I don’t think they played their best today.”

Three of the six Illini singles players won their first sets en route to the team’s 5-2 win.

Jones, despite losing his first set, rebounded to defeat Klingemann 6-7 (5), 7-5, 10-5.

“He played well, I played OK and I guess I kind of got through it at the end,” Jones said.

Jones said winning the second set helped him build momentum heading into the super tiebreaker.

“I think I actually play better (in singles) when we lose our doubles,” Jones said.

Although Jones was the last Illini player on the court, the match was decided long before his match was over.

Freshman Ruben Gonzales clinched the match for Illinois when he defeated Dennis Mertens 6-3, 6-2.

“I know they are (sort of) a team we don’t like that much so it felt good to beat them convincingly,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said he feels that his ability to focus on the offensive aspects of his game was crucial to his performance.

There will be no rest for the Illini though.

The Illini will take to the courts again soon when they take on Kentucky Wednesday at the Atkins Tennis Center at 5:30 p.m.

“I don’t really look back or forward,” Gonzales said. “I just focus on what I do before the match.”