Lambing, Rodrigues move on to the main draw semifinals.

COLUMBIA, S.C.— A pair of Gamecock sophomores advanced in their main draws as South Carolina men’s tennis opened its season by hosting the Gamecock Fall Invitational Friday afternoon at Carolina Tennis Center. No. 35 Daniel Rodrigues and No. 110 Raphael Lambling each won two matches to advance to the semifinals of the White and Garnet singles draws, respectively.
 
FIRST ROUND SINGLES
The first round of singles saw three Gamecocks pick up their first wins of the new campaign. Sophomore Daniel Rodrigues defeated Andrew Rodgers (TN) 7-6 (4), 6-3, and freshman Connor Thomson notched a 6-1, 6-0 win over SMU’s Jordi Redelijk. No. 110 Raphael Lambling bookended his three-set match with solid 6-2 sets, the second coming after Arizona’s Nick Lagaev battled out a 7-6 (5) second-set victory.
 
South Carolina Results:
(110) Raphael Lambling (SC) def. Nick Lagaev (AZ) 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-2
Connor Thomson (SC) def. Jordi Redelijk (SMU) 6-1, 6-0
(35) Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. Andrew Rogers (TN) 7-6 (4), 6-3
(46) Filip Malbasic (AZ) def. Beau Pelletier (SC) 6-2, 6-0
(42) Edson Ortiz (ALA) def. Phillip Jordan (SC) 6-1, 6-0
(113) Francisco Bastias (MIA) def. Thomas Brown (SC) 6-3, 6-1
 
 
SECOND ROUND SINGLES
In the afternoon session, Rodrigues and Lambling continued their winning ways, each advancing to the semifinals of this weekend’s singles draws. Lambling downed Fresno State’s Angus Bradshaw 7-5, 6-4 to move on in the Garnet draw, while Rodrigues made quick work of SMU’s Tomas Vaise 6-2, 6-4. The No. 2-seeded Rodrigues will take on North Carolina’s Brian Cernoch, ranked No. 48 in the nation, in the White draw semis. Lambling is set to face the nation’s No. 4 player in Yuya Ito of Texas.
 
In the backdraw, two more Gamecocks picked up their first wins of the season with sophomore Beau Pelletier taking down East Tennessee State’s Yusuf Khamis 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 and freshman Phillip Jordan sweeping ETSU’s Frazier Rengifo 6-0, 6-0.
 
 
South Carolina Results:
Main Draw
(35) Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. Tomas Vaise (SMU) 6-2, 6-4
(110) Raphael Lambling (SC) def. Angus Bradshaw (FSU)
(4) Ito Yuya (TX) def. Connor Thomson (SC) 6-1, 6-3
 
Back Draw
Phillip Jordan (SC)  def. Frazier Rengifo (ETSU) 6-0, 6-0
Beau Pelletier (SC) def. Yusuf Khamis (ETSU) 6-1, 1-6, 6-1,
Caleb Charkvarthi (SMU) def. Thomas Brown (SC) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
 
 
 
 
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The tournament continues Saturday with two rounds of doubles beginning at 9 a.m. and one round of singles action following the doubles matches.
 
All of the draws, scores and schedules can be accessed at https://courthive.com/t/31400?.
 
 
For men’s tennis information, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).