Tigers Top SMU, 5-2 to Secure Weekend Sweep at Home

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson Tigers add on to their undefeated home-streak as they run past SMU, 5-2 to secure their third victory of the weekend. The duo of Max Damm and Wissam Abderrahman clinched the doubles point for the Tigers as Ryuhei Azuma secured the overall victory for Clemson in singles. 

“Great team win today,” Head Coach Brandon Wagner said. “Great composure under pressure in doubles and an all around better competitive performance as a whole. Took a step in the right direction we want this season to go and the product we put out there. I know our guys will build off today’s win.”

Clemson 5, SMU 2

The Tigers brought the energy early in doubles as they were leading on all courts to start. The Mustangs took the first doubles victory of the match but Clemson was able to answer back as the freshman duo of Marko Mesarovic and Stewart Aronson recorded a win 6-3 against Maks Silagy and Julian Steinhausen. 

With the doubles tied 1-1, it was left to the duo of Damm and Abderrahan to get it done and secure the doubles point for Clemson. After an intense back and forth battle, the pairing was able to record the tiebreaker win of 7-6 (7-1) to award the Tigers the doubles point and give Clemson the 1-0 lead. 

In singles, the first Tiger to secure a victory was Mesarovic as he took down SMU’s Jerry Barton on court four. Barton is currently ranked No. 88 in the nation in singles but Mesarovic was able to come out on top as earned the 6-4, 6-3 win. Securing the second 6-4, 6-3 singles victory was Matt Pitts as he increased the Tigers lead to 3-0. The win marked Pitt’s third-straight victory of the weekend. 

Immediately after Pitts’ victory on court six, Ryuhei Azuma earned a massive win over SMU’s Trevor Svajda as Azuma won the match 7-5, 6-4. With the win, Azuma helped Clemson clinch the victory over the Mustangs as the Tigers took the lead, 4-0. 

Securing the fifth and final point for the Tigers was Noa Vukadin as he secured a tiebreaker win over Liam Krall 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 1-0 (10-6). The Mustangs were able to record two singles victories but the Tigers ultimately topped SMU, 5-2 as they completed their 3-0 sweep on the weekend. 

Up next, the Tigers will play host to Furman and Wofford on Thursday, Feb. 22 as they are set to host their third doubleheader of the 2024 season. The match against the Paladins is slated for 12 p.m. and the match over the Terriers is scheduled for 5 p.m. 

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

RESULTS: 

Clemson (4-4), 5 vs SMU (8-3), 2

Doubles

1. Neff/Allen (SMU) def. No. 33 Smith/Vukadin (CU), 6-2
2. Aronson/Mesarovic (CU) def Silagy/Steinhausen (SMU), 6-3
3. Abderrhamn/Damm (CU) def. Svajda/Cloud (SMU), 7-6 (7-1)

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles

1. Ryuhei Azuma (CU) def. Trevor Svajda (SMU), 7-5, 6-4
2. Adam Neff (SMU) def. Wissam Abderrhman (CU), 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8)
3. No. 111 Noa Vukadin (CU) def. Liam Krall (SMU), 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 1-0 (10-6)
4. Marko Mesarovic (CU) def. No. 88 Jerry Barton (SMU), 6-4, 6-3
5. Maks Silagy (SMU) def. Stewart Aronson (CU), 0-6, 6-1, 6-3
6. Matt Pitts (CU) def. Louis Cloud (SMU), 6-4, 6-3

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