Gamecocks Capture Palmetto Series Point with 4-3 Home Win

COLUMBIA, S.C.- South Carolina men’s tennis (7-1) freshman, Raphael Lambling, earned his second three-set win in a row to clinch what would finish as a 4-3 win for the Gamecocks over Clemson (6-3) on Friday evening at the Carolina Tennis Center.  The win for Carolina, its fifth-straight on the young spring season, is also its fifth-consecutive win over in-state rival Clemson.

Lambling, a true freshman from Paris, France, rebounded to clinch the match for the Gamecocks after falling behind early. He overcame a slow start with a 7-5 second-set win and followed up with a 6-1 third to put the Gamecocks ahead 4-2. 

Clemson snapped the Gamecocks’ streak of four-consecutive doubles point victories, but Carolina was able to build momentum heading into the singles session which saw three Carolina players jump ahead multiple breaks to begin their respective singles matches.  With decisive wins from Paul Jubb (6-2, 6-2) and Daniel Rodrigues (6-0, 6-2) in the bag, Lambling worked his third-set magic to give the Gamecocks its sixth home win of the season.

DOUBLES- Order of Finish (2,3)
South Carolina dropped just its second doubles point of the season, falling 6-3 at No. 2 doubles to begin the doubles session. 

Yancy Dennis and Jake Beasley shifted momentum at No. 3 doubles but dropped a tight deuce point down 6-5 which gave Clemson the doubles point win.

1. Simon Baudry/Yizhou Liu (CU) def. Raphael Lambling/Daniel Rodrigues (SC) 5-4
2. Jacob Jahn/Pierre-Louis Dodens (CU) def. Paul Jubb/Joseph Brailovsky (SC) 6-3
3. Teodor Giusca/Carlos Kelaidis (CU) def. Yancy Dennis/Jake Beasley (SC) 7-5 

SINGLES- Order of Finish (1,3,6,5,4*,2)
16th-ranked Paul Jubb put up a strong showing at No. 1 singles with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Teodor Giusca.  Daniel Rodrigues also made quick work of his opponent, winning 6-0, 6-2 to put the Gamecocks ahead 2-1.  Joseph Brailovksy held off a late second-set push on court five to win his match, 6-1, 6-4, putting the Gamecocks back in front 3-2.

The dying moments of the match saw Raphael Lambling and teammate Yancy Dennis locked into tight three-set matches on courts four and two, respectively.  Having already pulled back even in a tight 7-5 second set, Lambling finished off Clemson’s Yizhou Liu in a dominant 6-1 third. 

“It was a really tight second set and after I won 7-5, I knew I had to keep pushing with my game,” said Lambling. “The crowd was insane. This was bigger than our other matches, that was something else. It was an amazing feeling for sure.” 

1. #16 Paul Jubb (SC) def. Teodor Giusca (CU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Simon Baudry (CU) def. Yancy Dennis (SC) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3. #110 Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. Carlos Kelaidis (CU) 6-0, 6-2
4. #114 Raphael Lambling (SC) def. Yizhou Liu (CU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-1
5. Joseph Brailovsky (SC) def. Pierre-Louis Dodens (CU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Jacob Jahn (CU) def. Thomas Brown (SC) 6-0, 6-4

UP NEXT:
South Carolina has tentatively rescheduled its home match against Georgia Tech to Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., based on heavy rainfall in the forecast for the Columbia area.  For updates regarding Saturday’s match and all other Gamecock men’s tennis updates, follow the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis) and continue to check back on continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com.