No. 20 Gamecocks Open Season with 4-3 Win at Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – No. 20 South Carolina men’s tennis kicked off its dual-match season with a 4-3 win at Charlotte Friday afternoon. The Gamecocks stayed perfect in their 11 season openers under head coach Josh Goffi when Phillip Jordan’s second-set tiebreak victory in the No. 5 spot in the singles lineup clinched the match.
Sophomore Daniel Rodrigues continued his outstanding play with a pair of dominant victories. He and Connor Thomson defeated No. 39 Ben Wayand/Henry Lieberman 6-1, and Rodrigues went on to drop just one game in his No. 1 singles victory. He improved to 8-4 in doubles and 9-2 in singles on the season.
Jake Beasley and first-year freshman Toby Samuel combined to clinch the doubles point with their 6-3 win in the No. 3 position, marking their sixth-straight victory.
The Gamecocks won four of the six first sets Rodrigues, Beasley and Jordan finishing out their straight-set wins in the Nos. 1, 6 and 5 spots, respectively. With a 3-0 South Carolina lead, the 49ers notched their first singles win, but Jordan powered through his second-set tiebreak 7-6 (3) to seal the team victory.
South Carolina is back in action on Sun., Jan. 24, at ITA Kickoff Weekend in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Gamecocks and No. 23 Duke Blue Devils open the event with a 10 a.m. match at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
(20) South Carolina def. Charlotte 4-3
Doubles (Order of Finish: 1, 3)
1. (44) Daniel Rodrigues / Connor Thomson (SC) def. (39) Ben Wayand/Henry Lieberman (CHA) 6-1
2. Ignasi de Rueda/Olle Wallin (CHA) led (59) Raphael Lambling / Phillip Jordan (SC) 5-2 unfinished
3. Jake Beasley / Toby Samuel (SC) def. Collin Thomson / Leon Menezes (CHA) 6-3
Singles (Order of Finish: 1, 6, 4, 5*, 3, 2)
1. (32) Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. Ben Wayand (CHA) 6-1, 6-0
2. Henry Lieberman (CHA) def. (81) Raphael Lambling (SC) 7-6 (3), 7-5
3. Olle Wallin (CHA) def. (118) Connor Thomson (SC) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
4. Ignasi de Rueda (CHA) def. Toby Smauel (SC) 6-4, 6-3
5. Phillip Jordan (SC) def. Leo Menezes (CHA) 6-4, 7-6 (3)
6. Jake Beasley (SC) def. Vanja Dobrnjac (CHA) 6-0, 6-2
