Gamecocks Earn Preseason Rankings
Five Gamecocks land in the top 60 of preseason rankings
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Five South Carolina Gamecocks will start the 2021-22 men’s tennis season among the ITA top 60, led by junior Daniel Rodrigues in the No. 3 spot. Rodrigues and sophomore Connor Thomson are also ranked in doubles.
Rodrigues enters the Fall 2021 season ranked No. 3, the highest preseason ranking in program history. He finished last season at the same ranking after having a 31-8 record and coming in as the singles runner-up for the national title. He has also been selected to compete in the main draw at the ITA All-American Championships in October.
Thomson starts the season ranked at No. 16. He started last season with a preseason ranking of No. 118 and rose to No. 27 at seasons end by going 18-14 on the season in singles, including five wins versus ranked opponents. He has also qualified for the main draw of the ITA All-American Championships.
Junior Raphael Lambling is ranked No. 39 this fall. He had 12 singles victories in the 2020-21 season with three of those coming over ranked opponents. His record from last season secured him a spot in the qualifying singles draw of the All-American Championships.
Sophomore Toby Samuel enters the season ranked at No. 49 after putting up convincing numbers during his first year of collegiate play. Samuel had a singles record of 27-7 last season and a 5-1 record in postseason play, covering the SEC and NCAA championships. He has been selected to the qualifying singles draw of the All-American Championships.
Newcomer to the program, James Story, starts the season ranked at No. 56. Story posted an 8-5 record in an abbreviated year of competition at Memphis. He will attend the ITA All-American Championships in the qualifying singles draw.
In doubles, Rodrigues and Thomson claimed the No. 4 spot, tying them for highest doubles ranking in program history. Last season, the duo posted 22 wins and finished the season ranked at No. 11, the highest doubles final ranking in the program since the 1989 season. The pair will compete in the main draw doubles at the All-American Championships.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
ITA Preseason Rankings
Singles
#3 – Daniel Rodrigues
#16 – Connor Thomson
#39 – Raphael Lambling
#49 – Toby Samuel
Rodrigues enters the Fall 2021 season ranked No. 3, the highest preseason ranking in program history. He finished last season at the same ranking after having a 31-8 record and coming in as the singles runner-up for the national title. He has also been selected to compete in the main draw at the ITA All-American Championships in October.
Thomson starts the season ranked at No. 16. He started last season with a preseason ranking of No. 118 and rose to No. 27 at seasons end by going 18-14 on the season in singles, including five wins versus ranked opponents. He has also qualified for the main draw of the ITA All-American Championships.
Junior Raphael Lambling is ranked No. 39 this fall. He had 12 singles victories in the 2020-21 season with three of those coming over ranked opponents. His record from last season secured him a spot in the qualifying singles draw of the All-American Championships.
Sophomore Toby Samuel enters the season ranked at No. 49 after putting up convincing numbers during his first year of collegiate play. Samuel had a singles record of 27-7 last season and a 5-1 record in postseason play, covering the SEC and NCAA championships. He has been selected to the qualifying singles draw of the All-American Championships.
Newcomer to the program, James Story, starts the season ranked at No. 56. Story posted an 8-5 record in an abbreviated year of competition at Memphis. He will attend the ITA All-American Championships in the qualifying singles draw.
In doubles, Rodrigues and Thomson claimed the No. 4 spot, tying them for highest doubles ranking in program history. Last season, the duo posted 22 wins and finished the season ranked at No. 11, the highest doubles final ranking in the program since the 1989 season. The pair will compete in the main draw doubles at the All-American Championships.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
ITA Preseason Rankings
Singles
#3 – Daniel Rodrigues
#16 – Connor Thomson
#39 – Raphael Lambling
#49 – Toby Samuel
#56 – James Story
Doubles
#4 Daniel Rodrigues/Connor Thomson
