Clemson men’s tennis improved to 3-0 as the team defeated the Memphis Tigers 5-2 on Sunday. The Tigers’ win in Memphis, Tennessee, displayed their improved tenacity, earning revenge over a Memphis team that beat them 4-2 in March of last year.
The Tigers’ match against Memphis was their third of the season and their first on the road. But in the locker room, the emphasis and anticipation for this specific match was so much more.
“Since the schedule was released in the fall, coach was always saying that we will really be challenged when we go to Memphis,” Noa Vukadin said. “This was the match we were really anticipating.”
The Tigers’ victory at Leftwich Tennis Center displayed their undeniable strength and skill in the physical aspect of the game. However, it was the squad’s mental aptitude and toughness that really took them over the finish line.
In doubles play, Clemson’s Top 25-ranked duo, Vukadin and Maxwell Smith, were upset 6-4 by Memphis’s Conor Gannon and Sam Reeve on court No. 1. Wissam Abderrahman and Romain Gales responded by winning their doubles match 6-3.
The doubles point inevitably came down to a 7-point tiebreak on court No. 2. In a high stakes nail biter, Viktor Markov and Max Damm held on to win the tiebreaker 9-7.
The Tigers secured the doubles point and simultaneously sent a message to Vukadin and Smith: “We got your back.”
“Our guys came through in some close, big moments in doubles today,” head coach Brandon Wagner said.
The gritty doubles performance sparked a singles surge for the Tigers.
Following his clutch doubles tiebreaker win, Markov made it a day to remember as he won 6-3, 6-4 in singles.
Likewise, Abderrahman went undefeated on the day as he iced his match in a deciding third-set tie. After splitting the first two sets with Michael Kouame, a 10-point breaker was the difference in getting the win for Clemson.
Marko Mesarovic came through with a relatively simple 6-2, 6-2 win in straight sets on court No. 6. Finally, Noa Vukadin made no mistake as he got the last laugh over Gannon, winning 6-3, 6-0.
“I’m in pretty good form, and physically, I have never felt better,” Vukadin said. “Mentally also, I feel like I’m ready. I’m calm. I also have the experience now.”
Vukadin’s 6-0 victory in the second set was his second consecutive 6-0 singles set win in a match this season after he won 6-0, 6-1 against ETSU last week. Vukadin’s strides in singles have him poised for a breakthrough. Currently ranked No. 69 in singles, Vukadin shared his individual goal: to break into the top 20 in singles. Needless to say, Vukadin is on pace.
In their biggest test of the season, the Tigers passed with flying colors, as they demonstrated an unbreakable team spirit in doubles and an admirable resilience in singles.
“We had some great singles performances today and we are looking forward to preparing for another road test outdoors next week,” Wagner added.
The Tigers are on the bus again next week as they trek down to Boca Raton, Florida, to face Florida Atlantic University on Saturday at noon with a chance to improve to 4-0 on an already strong season.
