Men's Tennis . January 27, 2018

Gamecocks Fall to No. 17 Michigan at ITA Kick-Off Weekend

Jan. 27, 2018

Pos.	*Doubles (2, 3)**	Score
1.	#19 Knight/Hua (UM) v. Cerundolo/Friedrich (SC)	5-4 susp.
2.	Johnston/Schalet (UM) d. Mayronne/Jubb (SC)	6-0
3.	M. Siimar/K. Siimar (UM) d. O’Keefe/Dennis (SC)	6-4

Pos.	*Singles (6, 4, 3)**	Score
1.	#9 Alex Knight v. #57 Francisco Cerundolo (SC)	7-5, 3-5, susp.
2.	#20 Runhao Hua (UM) d. #74 Gabriel Friedrich (SC)	6-2, 6-4
3.	Mattias Siimar (UM) v. Paul Jubb (SC)	4-6, 7-5, susp.
4.	Myles Schalet (UM) d. #63 Yancy Dennis (SC)	7-5, 6-4
5.	Carter Lin (UM) v. #117 Thomas Mayronne (SC)	6-2, 5-5, susp.
6.	Davis Crocker (UM) d. Harrison O’Keefe (SC)	6-3, 6-1

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 20 South Carolina men’s tennis took its first loss of the season to No. 17 Michigan on Saturday. The Gamecocks faced off against the Wolverines in the first round of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend hosted by North Carolina, falling 4-0. South Carolina is now 4-1 after a four-match win streak to start the season.

The Gamecocks will compete again on Sunday in the event’s consolation match against the loser of Saturday’s afternoon match between No. 3 North Carolina and Drake.

South Carolina was unable to secure the doubles point starting the match, with two losses in the Nos. 2 and 3 matches. At the top of the lineup, Francisco Cerundolo and Gabriel Friedrich were in a hard-fought battle with the No. 19 team in the nation, Michigan’s Alex Knight and Runhao Hua, playing to 5-4 before the match was suspended.

In singles, No. 57 Cerundolo showed his endurance in the number one spot, facing off against No. 9 Alex Knight. The Gamecock freshman fought to a tiebreak in the first season, falling in a tough 7-6 (5) set but took a 5-3 lead in the second when his match was suspended.

Paul Jubb was the lone Gamecock to secure a win in the first set, outscoring Mattias Siimar 6-4. Siimar came back with a 7-5 win in the second set with the match suspended before the third set began.

No. 74 Friedrich faced off against No. 20 Hua in the number two singles spot, falling 6-2, 6-4. No. 63 Yancy Dennis dropped the first set late to Myles Schalet, 7-5, with Michigan’s No. 4 entry going on to claim the second set 6-4.

O’Keefe played the Gamecocks’ number six match, falling to Davis Crocker 6-3, 6-1 in the first finished singles match of the day.

The Gamecocks will be back in action on Sunday in the North Carolina regional consolation match at 9:30 a.m. in Chapel Hill, N.C.