Gamecocks Complete 3-0 Weekend After Defeating No. 20 Duke

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 14 South Carolina men’s tennis team defeated No. 20 Duke 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Carolina Indoor Tennis Center to complete a perfect 3-0 week following sweeps over Presbyterian and SC State. The Gamecocks earned an early lead when they won the doubles point and carried the momentum into singles to pick up their third ranked win of the season. 

Cole Henceroth and Atakan Karahan jumped out to an early 3-1 lead on court three, while Charlie Swaine and Sean Daryabeigi held a slim 3-2 advantage on court two. At the top of the lineup, No. 51 Paul Barbier Gazeu and Lucas da Silva fell behind 3-1 against No. 36 Pedro Rodenas and Cooper Williams. Swaine and Daryabeigi battled back-and-forth with the Blue Devils but ultimately dropped their match, 6-4. Da Silva and Barbier Gazeu responded with a strong rally, storming back from a 1-3 deficit to secure a 6-4 upset. Karahan and Henceroth maintained control on court three and closed out a 6-4 victory, clinching the doubles point and giving the Gamecocks an early 1-0 lead.

In singles play, South Carolina picked up three straight-set wins to clinch the match. Swaine struck first for the Gamecocks, earning his third win from the No. 6 position in a dominant 6-2, 6-1 showing. From the top of the lineup, No. 23 da Silva extended the lead to 3-0 after taking down No. 47 Cooper Williams 6-2, 6-3. Duke’s lone point of the match was earned as Karahan fell 6-2, 6-4 to Alexander Visser. It was No. 87 Gazeu who sealed the Gamecocks’ 4-1 victory, fighting through a tight second set to pull off a 6-4, 6-4 win over No. 78 Gerard Planelles Ripoll.

Up next the Gamecocks open SEC play on the road, facing Oklahoma on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 1:00 p.m. (ET).

No. 14 South Carolina 4, No. 20 Duke 1

DOUBLES (order of finish: 2,1,3)

1. No. 51 Lucas da Silva/Paul Barbier Gazeu (USC) def. No. 36 Cooper Williams/Pedro Rodenas (DUKE) 6-4 
2. Dylan Long/Gerard Planelles Ripoll (DUKE) def. Sean Darybeigi/Charlie Swaine (USC) 6-4
3. Atakan Karahan/Cole Henceroth (USC) def. Teddy Truwit/Alexander Visser (DUKE) 6-4

SINGLES (order of finish: 6,1,4,3)

1. No. 23 Lucas da Silva (USC) vs. No. 47 Cooper Williams (DUKE) 6-2, 6-3 
2. No. 90 Pedro Rodenas (DUKE) led No. 36 Sean Daryabeigi (USC) 7-6, 3-3 unfinished
3. No. 87 Paul Barbier Gazeu (USC) def. No. 78 Gerard Planelles Ripoll (DUKE) 6-4, 6-4
4. Alexander Visser (DUKE) def. Atakan Karahan (USC) 6-2, 6-4
5. Max Stenzer (USC) led Dylan Long (DUKE) 6-2, 3-6, 3-2 unfinished
6. Charlie Swaine (USC) def. Saahith Jayaraman (DUKE) 6-2, 6-1