Three Tigers Still Alive in Singles Draw at ITA Carolina Regional

CARY, N.C. – Three Clemson juniors, Robert Dudley, Christian Harris and Daffra Sanon, each won two singles matches on the first day of competition Friday at the ITA Carolina Regional in Cary, N.C. All three will compete in the Round of 32 on Saturday.

“We are proud of the way the guys battled through some tough three-set matches today,” said Associate Head Coach John Boetsch. “We will have to come out tomorrow ready to play, as we have some great opportunities in both singles and doubles.”

Sanon defeated Josh Swindler of UNC Asheville, 6-2, 6-2, in the Round of 128, and Maksim Kan of Wake Forest, 7-6(6), 6-0, in the Round of 64. Harris won his two matches over Gabriel Cucalon of North Carolina Central (6-3, 6-4) and Tendai Tapfuma of East Carolina (6-3, 5-7, 6-3) in the first and second rounds, respectively. Dudley won both of his matches in three sets on Friday, against Scott Webster of Appalachian State (4-6, 6-3, 6-4) and Lorenz Schwab of Campbell (6-4, 3-6, 7-5).

Senior Austin Ansari defeated Duke’s Andrew DeJoy, 6-1, 6-2, in the Round of 128, before falling to the tournament’s No. 4 overall seed, Jack Murray of North Carolina, in the Round of 64. Fellow senior Luke Johnson dropped his first round match in three sets, but rebounded with a 6-3, 6-4 consolation round win over Warren Bryan of UNC Greensboro. Junior Brent Lett also won his consolation round match, in three sets, against North Carolina’s Stuart Depaolo, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Dudley, Harris and Sanon continue singles play in the Round of 32 on Saturday, while Johnson and Lett resume action in the Consolation Round of 32. Three Clemson doubles team begin play on Saturday, Ansari and Harris, Dudley and Johnson and Lett and freshman Arturo Pinazo.