Men's Tennis . April 9, 2025

Gamecocks Sweep SEC Weekly Awards

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Two Gamecocks earned a pair of SEC Weekly Awards, announced by the league on Wednesday afternoon.

Connor Thomson was tabbed SEC Player of the Week for the second time this season while Atakan Karahan earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors. Both Gamecocks went undefeated in their respective matches against Tennessee and Georgia last week.

South Carolina upset a then-No. 18 Tennessee 4-3 before rounding out the week with a 4-0 shutout over Georgia. Thomson and Karahan played significant roles in both victories.

Thomson went 2-0 in singles play against both teams, contributing a point to each win. The graduate student started off the weekend taking down then-No. 25 Alex Kotzen in a dominant 6-3, 6-1 showing after having to move up from the No. 2 to No. 1 position. Against Georgia, Thomson clinched the match from the top of the lineup after defeating then-No.43 Miguel Pena 7-5, 6-1.

Karahan had a perfect 4-0 weekend in his singles and doubles matches, helping carry the team to both wins. The freshman clinched the doubles point over Tennessee alongside Jelani Sarr in a 6-3 victory, picking up his ninth win of the dual match season as a duo. After being down 0-3, the Volunteers tied up the match at 3-all which left the deciding factor to Karahan. The Turkey native was able to pull through, fighting through long rallies to ultimately win the match for the Gamecocks after a 7-5, 6-4 victory.

The Georgia match started off in a similar fashion for Karahan as he once again clinched the doubles point with Sarr after pulling off a huge upset over then-No. 17 Thomas Paulsell and Ryan Colby, winning 6-4. In singles he got the Gamecocks one within clinching after winning his match 6-3, 6-3, leading the team to shutout the Bulldogs.

The No. 15 Gamecocks wrap up the regular season at home this weekend, hosting No. 29 Florida on Sat., April 12 at 5:00 p.m.

For the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).