Sept. 25, 2015

ATLANTA, Ga. – South Carolina men’s tennis completed day one at the Georgia Tech Fall Classic in Atlanta with six Gamecocks advancing to the quarterfinals of their respective flights.

Sophomore Gabriel Friedrich and junior Alex Fennell each won their first round matches in Draw A. Friedrich defeated Gustav Hansson of Ole Miss, 7-6(1), 7-5, and awaits Arkansas junior Michael Redlicki in the next round. Fennell claimed his first win as a Gamecock, taking down Zackery Kennedy of Georgia State, 6-4, 6-4. He faces Tennessee’s Luis Valero on Saturday.

In Draw B, sophomores Thomas Mayronne and Harrison O’Keefe and freshman Yancy Dennis all advanced. Mayronne defeated Kennesaw State’s Manuel Castellanos, 6-3, 6-4, and will take on David Herrerias of Arkansas on Saturday. O’Keefe beat Georgia State’s Jack MacFarlane, 6-1, 6-2, and is set up to face Georgia Tech’s Daniel Yun in the next round. Dennis defeated Georgia Tech’s Elijah Melendez and will square off with Georgia State’s Felipe Jaworski in the next round.

Junior Sam Swank won his opening round match in Draw C against Kennesaw State’s Lucas de Torres, 6-4, 6-2. He is set to do battle with Casey Kay of Georgia Tech on Saturday.

Two Gamecocks begin competing in the consolation rounds Saturday after dropping their opening round matches. Redshirt freshman Wood Benton fell to Fabian Fallert of Ole Miss and junior Andrew Schafer was defeated by Tennessee’s Igor Smelyanski.

The Gamecocks went 3-1 in doubles matches picking up wins from the duos of Fennell and Friedrich, Dennis and Schafer and Benton and Swank. They advance to the semifinals of their respective flights.

Play resumes Saturday at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex. For tournament information, brackets and updates, visit tennislink.usta.com.

SINGLES
Draw A/Gold
Gabriel Friedrich (SC) def. Gustav Hansson (Ole Miss), 7-6(1), 7-5
Alex Fennell (SC) def. Zackery Kennedy (Georgia St.), 6-4, 6-4

Draw B/White
Thomas Mayronne (SC) def. Manuel Castellanos (Kennesaw St.), 6-3, 6-4
Harrison O’Keefe (SC) def. Jack MacFarlane (Georgia St.), 6-1, 6-2
Yancy Dennis (SC) def. Elijah Melendez (GT), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Igor Smelyanski (Tenn.) def. Andrew Schafer (SC), 6-3, 6-4

Draw C/Navy
Sam Swank (SC) def. Lucas de Torres (Kennesaw St.), 6-4, 6-2
Fabian Fallert (Ole Miss) def. Wood Benton (SC), 6-4, 6-0

DOUBLES
Draw A/Gold
Casey Kay/Michael Kay (GT) def. No. 32 Mayronne/O’Keefe (SC) 8-5

Draw B/White
Fennell/Friedrich (SC) def. Durham/Wendel (Kennesaw St.), 8-3
Dennis/Schafer (SC) def. Kennedy/MacFarlane (Georgia St.), 8-6

Draw C/Navy
Benton/Swank (SC) def. Hublitz/Massa (UNCW), 8-6