Tigers Win Two in Debut at Duckworth Family Tennis Facility

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson women’s tennis team (2-0) opened the 2019 season with wins over Charleston Southern (0-1) and Charlotte (0-2) on Friday afternoon in the Duckworth Classic in Clemson, S.C. The matches were the first-ever played at the Tigers’ brand new, state-of-the-art Duckworth Family Tennis Facility, which opened its doors in November 2018. During the pregame festivities, Ed Duckworth tossed the inaugural first serve, as his wife Jane looked on.

Clemson 4, Charleston Southern 0
The Tigers claimed the doubles point after a convincing 6-1 win by Ally Miller-Krasilnikov and Sydney Riley at No. 2, followed by a come-from-behind 7-6(3) victory by Marie-Alexandre Leduc and Fernanda Navarro at No. 1. In singles play, Riley, Leduc and Laura Marti each won in straight sets and in that order, at No. 3, No. 1 and No. 5 singles, respectively, to solidify the 4-0 sweep for Clemson.

Photos by Kim Montuoro:

Clemson 4, Charlotte 2
Although Leduc and Navarro picked up a 6-3 victory at No. 1 doubles, the 49ers won close matches at No. 2 and No. 3 to earn the doubles point. The Tigers responded by winning four of five singles matches (Leduc at No. 1, Navarro at No. 2, Riley at No. 3 and Tate Schroeder at No. 4) to win the match 4-2.

Photos by Carl Ackerman:

OF NOTE

• Leduc and Navarro, ranked third nationally in the ITA’s final fall doubles poll after winning the national title at the 2018 Oracle ITA National Fall Championships, are now 2-0 to start the spring.
• Leduc also won both of her matches at No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-2 vs. Charleston Southern and 6-0, 6-1 vs. Charlotte, only dropping three games on the day.
• Riley was 2-0 in singles play, winning both of her No. 3 singles matches in straight sets.
• Marti clinched the team victory over Charleston Southern, while Schroeder provided the final point against the 49ers.
• The two wins on Friday put Head Coach Nancy Harris at 350 career wins at Clemson. The Tigers’ leader, in her 22^nd season at the helm of the program, has a 350-202 record at Clemson, and a 548-249 overall career record as a head coach.

UP NEXT
The Tigers return to the courts for Day 2 of the Duckworth Classic on Sunday, Jan. 20, as they host College of Charleston at 12 p.m. and Presbyterian College at 3 p.m. at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility. Clemson Marketing is holding its “Sunday Sundaes” match, and handing out free ice cream to the first 50 children at the match.