Head Coach Boomer Saia and Tigers Secure First Win of the Season

CLEMSON, S.C. –In his first season as head coach, Boomer Saia and the Tigers can add their first match of the season to their resume. The Tigers came out on top in a hard-fought 4-3 battle.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

“I am proud of the group,” Boomer said. “We had some great battles in Indian Wells at the Palm Springs Tournament, and to watch the group come in tonight to have some very close matches shows that we learned a lot in the past couple of weeks. Eleni had a tough run out there and ended up having one of the toughest performances I have seen in a really long time. So, to watch her overcome her moment of adversity in tonight’s match and our group as a whole was so great to watch tonight. We were down and out in some ways tonight but chose to stay and fight. Watching them compete made this win so amazing, but I am prouder of the way we conducted ourselves and found ways to compete tonight.”

In doubles, Sophia Hatton and Alina Tsyurpalevych were first to finish as they recorded the first victory of the match, taking down ETSU’s Jana Rovira and Ralista Alexandrova 6-0 on court three. 

Securing the doubles point for Clemson was the duo of Jenna Thompson and Eleni Louka, who defeated ETSU’s Fernanda Caravajal and Daniela Rivera (6-3) on court one for the Tigers. 

Finishing first in singles was ETSU’s Daniela Rivera as she defeated Jenna Thompson 6-4, 6-3. Next to wrap up was ETSU’s Ralitsa Alexandrova as she secured a 6-3, 6-2 win over Clemson’s Leigh Van Zyl.

Earning the first singles win for the Tigers was Tsyurpalevych as she took down Rovira 7-6(1), 6-4. The match marked Tsyurpalevych’s home debut and the first victory of the 2024 season for the freshman. 

On court five, Sophia Hatton secured the second singles victory of the match as she defeated Alessandra Cacerres in an intense tiebreak, with Hatton taking the win 7-5, 7(7)-6(2). 

In a thrilling three-set victory, Louka took down Sofia Markova 6-4, 7-6, 7(7)-6(3) to clinch the Tiger’s first win of the season and Saia’s first victory at Clemson.

Clemson (1-0) vs ETSU (0-2) 

Doubles

1. Thompson/Louka (CU) def. Caravajal/Rivera (ETSU), 6-3
2. Cacerres/Markova (ETSU) def Mayorova/Van Zyl (CU), 5-7
3. Hatton/Tsyurpalevych (CU) def. Rovira/Alexandrova (ETSU), 6-0

Order of Finish: 3,1,2

Singles

1. Eleni Louka (CU) def. Sofia Markova (ETSU), 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Fernanda Caravajal (ETSU) def. Christina Mayorova (CU), 7-5, 4-6, 6-0
3. Daniela Rivera (ETSU) def. Jenna Thompson (CU), 6-4, 6-3
4. Alina Tsyurpalevych (CU) def. Jana Rovira (ETSU), 7-6 (0-1), 6-4
5. Sophia Hatton (CU) def. Alessandra Cacerres (ETSU), 7-5, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Ralitsa Alexandrova (ETSU) def. Leigh Van Zyl (CU), 6-3, 6-2

Order of Finish: 3, 6, 4, 5, 2, 1

Social Media

Match Point

Singles

Next up, the Tigers will compete in their first doubleheader of the season on Sunday, January 21 at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility. The first match will be against Georgia State at 11 a.m., and the second will be against Western Carolina at 4 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information regarding the results and other information, please check our social media on Instagram, X, and Facebook @ClemsonWTEN.