Azuma Continues Solid Play as Tigers Fall to Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Clemson Tigers (6-4) started off strong on Friday night against the Louisville Cardinals but couldn’t hold on, dropping their first ACC match of the season, 4-2 at Bass-Rudd Tennis Center. 

The Tigers started doubles play with force as No. 22 doubles pair, Teodor Giusca and Ryuhei Azuma, secured the 6-4 win on Court 1 just before Jorge Plans Gonzalez and Max Smith clinched the doubles point for the Tigers with a 6-4 win of their own. 

Clemson carried its momentum over into singles, but the Cardinals crept back to make the match interesting. Louisville eventually secured the wins on Courts 4, 6 and 5 to take the 3-1 lead. Azuma shrunk the lead to 3-2 after winning on Court 2, 7-5, 6-4, but shortly after Louisville’s Tin Chen won on Court 3 and clinched the match, 4-2. 

Up next, the Tigers will conclude this weekend’s doubleheader on Sunday, March 6 at noon as they play Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

For complete coverage of the Clemson men’s tennis team, follow @ClemsonMTennis on Twitter and Instagram.

BOX SCORE: 

Doubles 

1. No. 22 Azuma/Giusca (CU) def. Rodrigues/Fung (LOU) 6-4
2. Whitaker/Smith (CU) def. Wesbrooks/Donnet (LOU) 6-4
3. Plans Gonzalez/M. Pitts (CU) vs. Chen/Hernandez (LOU) 5-4, unfinished

Singles 

1. Giusca (CU) vs. Donnet (LOU) 6-1, 3-6, 1-4, unfinished
2. Azuma (CU) def. Howard-Tripp (LOU) 7-5, 6-4
3. Chen (LOU) def. Whitaker (CU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-0
4. Hernandez (LOU) def. Plans Gonzalez (CU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Rodrigues (LOU) def. Pitts (CU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-0
6. Mizrahi (LOU) def. Smith (CU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)