Clemson‘s Seven-Match Winning Streak Halted

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama handed the Clemson men’s tennis team its first loss of the season on Sunday afternoon by a score of 5-2. The Crimson Tide improve to 5-2 overall while the Tigers fall to 7-1.

The Crimson Tide took the doubles point against the Tigers when No. 32 Spencer Richey and Mazen Osama clinched the point at No. 1, 6-4. Senior Robert Dudley and freshman Carlos Kelaidis got back in the win column with a 6-3 win at No. 2, but that was not enough for the Tigers. Before clinching at No. 1, the Tide was also victorious at No. 3 with a 6-3 victory.

Alabama jumped out to a 3-0 lead after straight set wins in singles on courts two and five. The Crimson Tide clinched the match after No. 63 Mazen Osama defeated Favrot on court one, (6-4, 7-6). The Tigers looked to be fighting back after Edwards forced a third set on court four but fell (2-6, 6-4, 4-6). Robert Dudley got the Tigers on the board bringing the score to 5-1 after he won (7-6, 6-4). Freshman Carlos Kelaidis would close out the match with a three-set (6-3, 4-6, 6-2) victory on court six making the final score 5-2 for Alabama. Kelaidis is currently undefeated as a Clemson Tiger.  

“Hats off to Alabama. They were the better team today, and I liked the energy they brought to the singles courts,” said Head Coach John Boetsch. “I know our team, and I know we will take what we learned from this match and be ready for this week’s training. This is a resilient bunch, and we will be ready for next weekend.”

Clemson returns to the courts on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. against Old Dominion at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center in Clemson, S.C.

Clemson 2, Alabama 5

Singles:

1. #63 Mazen Osama (BAMA) def. Alex Favrot (CU) 6-4, 7-6
2. #78 Thibault Cancel (BAMA) def. #123 Daffra Sanon (CU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Robert Dudley (CU) def. Alexey Nesterov (BAMA) 7-6, 6-4
4. Spencer Richey (BAMA) def. Sam Edwards (CU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
5. Edson Ortiz (BAMA) def. Christian Harris (CU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Carlos Kelaidis (CU) def. Zhe Zhou (BAMA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

Order of finish: 2,5,1*,4,5,6

Doubles:

1. #32 Spencer Richey/Mazen Osama (BAMA) def. Alex Favrot/Sam Edwards (CU) 6-4
2. Robert Dudley/Carlos Kelaidis (CU) def. Ritchie Kruunenberg/Alexey Nesterov (BAMA) 6-3
3. Thibault Cancel/Edson Ortiz (BAMA) def. Daffra Sanon/Christian Harris (CU) 6-3

Order of finish: 2,3,1