Men's Tennis . April 2, 2025

Gamecocks Host Two Top 30 Opponents

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 21 South Carolina men’s tennis team returns home this week to host a pair of top 30 ranked teams. The Gamecocks kick off action on Thurs., April 3 at 5:00 p.m. against No. 18 Tennessee and close out the weekend with a 1:00 p.m. match against No. 26 Georgia on Sat., April 5.

Gamecock Notables

Records: 14-6 (overall), 8-3 (SEC), 9-1 (home), 4-4 (away)
South Carolina is coming off of a split weekend, defeating then-No. 12 Texas A&M 4-2 in an upset victory before falling 0-4 to then-No. 4 Texas.
The Gamecocks claimed the doubles point against the Aggies to earn an advantage going into singles play with wins from Jelani Sarr & Atakan Karahan (6-3) and Connor Thomson & Lucas da Silva (6-4). Da Silva (6-1, 7-5) and Sean Daryabeigi (6-2, 7-6) won their matches in straight sets to get South Carolina within one point of clinching. Thomson ultimately clinched the top 15 upset after staging a three set comeback (4-6, 6-4, 6-2).
Sarr & Karahan got the Gamecocks’ lone win against the Longhorns in a 6-3 doubles showing, picking up their eighth victory as a pair of the dual match season.
Following their performances, the Gamecocks moved back into the top 25 in the latest edition of the ITA rankings, sitting at No. 21. Thomson (No. 42), Daryabeigi (No. 98) and Sarr (No. 111) represent the team in singles.
Thomson and da Silva soared through the doubles rankings from No. 15 to No. 4, which marks their highest ranking as a pair. The duo boasts a 9-3 record that includes four ranked wins, two of which were upsets.
The Gamecocks rank third in SEC standings, only behind Texas and Texas A&M.

Scouting the Volunteers

Records: 16-5 (overall), 7-3 (SEC), 12-2 (home), 4-3 (away)
The Volunteers are coming off of a 4-3 win over then-No. 56 Vanderbilt at home which boosted their winning streak to seven consecutive matches.
Alex Kotzen comes in at No. 25 in singles rankings for Tennessee with a 14-4 record. Mitsui Shunsuke follows him at No. 31 with a 15-3 record.
In doubles, Kotzen and Alejandro Moreno are ranked No. 12 with a 10-1 record. The duo are 4-1 against nationally ranked pairs.
Tennessee ranks fifth in SEC standings.

Scouting the Bulldogs

Records: 14-7 (overall), 7-3 (SEC), 12-1 (home), 2-5 (away)
The Bulldogs are coming off of a 5-1 win over North Carolina A&T and they will travel to Florida before taking on the Gamecocks.
Ryan Colby (No. 26), Thomas Paulsell (No. 32) and Miguel Perez Pena (No. 43) all represent the Bulldogs in the top-50 singles rankings.
Paulsell & Colby (No. 17), Freddy Blaydes and Niels Ratiu (No. 47) and Perez Pena and Oscar Pinto Sansano (No. 60) represent the Bulldogs in doubles rankings.
Georgia currently ranks sixth in SEC standings.

Series History

The Volunteers lead the all-time series against the Gamecocks 40-23. South Carolina has taken three of the last five match ups.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series against the Gamecocks 41-11. South Carolina won the last matchup between the two 4-3 on the road.

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