Gamecocks Dominate First Day of ITA Regionals
Cary, N.C. – South Carolina men’s tennis earned 11 wins on the first day of the ITA Carolina Regional in Cary, N.C. The Gamecocks picked up 11 singles wins on the day and only dropped three sets through 12 matches.
All six Gamecocks advanced through the first round of 128 with each defeating his opponents in straight sets. In the round of 64, five Gamecocks advanced, with four of those wins coming in straight sets.
Sophomore James Story was the most efficient on the day, yielding just four games across his four sets, including a pair of 6-0 decisions. In a match against Tomas Balazi from arch-rival Clemson, Connor Thomson shook off a late service break that ceded the first set to this Tiger opponent to win the second in a tiebreak and the third in dominant fashion to advance to the round of 32.
Joining Story and Thomson in the next rounds are Jake Beasley, whose four sets included a pair of tiebreak victories, Raphael Lambling and Toby Samuel, who played a near flawless first round match with a 6-0, 6-1 decision.
Play will continue at the ITA Carolina Regional Saturday with one round of singles and two rounds of doubles. Complete results and draws can be found on the ITA website.
Day 1 Results
Round of 128
Jake Beasley def. Peter Murphy (UNC) 7-6 (4), 6-0
(16) Connor Thomson def. Shaka Christelletti (NCCU) 6-0, 6-4
(56) James Story def. Bryce Keim (WCU) 6-0, 6-2
(39) Raphael Lambling def. Sebastian Pino (NCCU) 6-0, 6-3
Carter Morgan def. Esteban Penagos (Elon) 6-4, 6-1
(49) Toby Samuel def. Victor Putter (GWU) 6-0, 6-1
Round of 64
Beasley def. Jamie Connel (Furman) 6-4, 7-6 (1)
(16) Thomson def. Tomas Balazi (Clemson) 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-3
(56) Story def. Sam Kavarana (Davidson) 6-0, 6-2
(39) Lambling def. Anuj Watane (UNC) 6-2, 6-4
(51) Garrett Johns (NCSU) def. Morgan 6-0, 6-1
(49) Samuel def. Stefanos Savva (Charlotte) 6-3, 6-3
Day 2 Matchups
Singles
Beasley vs. Dusan Milanovic (PC) 8:30 a.m.
(16) Thomson vs. Braden Shick (NCSU) 8:30 a.m.
(56) Story vs. Logan Zapp (UNC) 9:30 a.m.
(39) Lambling vs. Connor Krug (Duke) 9:30 a.m.
(49) Samuel vs. (113) Kyle Frankel (Elon) 10 a.m.
Doubles
Beasley/Lambling vs. Berna Ruiz/O’Connor (NCCU)
Morgan/Story vs. Schnaitter/Banthia (Wake)
Thomson/Samuel BYE
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