SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse (7-1, 2-0 ACC) edged the Clemson women’s tennis team in a 4-3 thriller that came down to a third-set tiebreaker on court one singles. No. 32 Clemson fell to 7-3 on the year, and 0-1 in conference play.
In addition to the doubles point, Clemson also claimed three-set singles wins on courts five and six from Jenna Thompson and Sophia Hatton, respectively. Hatton was playing just a few miles from her hometown of DeWitt, N.Y., earning wins in both doubles and singles in front of the home fans. Eleni Louka won the second set to extend her match and picked up back-to-back breaks to force a third-set tiebreaker for the match, but ultimately fell, 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(3).
Clemson claimed the doubles point with two wins over a Syracuse unit that had not dropped a doubles point this season. Syracuse entered the match with a 16-3 overall record in doubles this spring. Jenna Thompson and Eleni Louka won 6-3 on the top line over previously unbeaten Kozyreva and Fonte. Hatton teamed with Alina Tsyurpalevych for a 6-4 win on court three.
In singles, Hatton claimed her first set, but each of the five other Tigers dropped their respective first sets. Louka fought back to take her second set on court one to force a third set, as did Thompson on court four. While Hatton was forced to a third set, she jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the decisive set against Shiori Ito.
In the meantime, Syracuse took a 2-1 lead in the match with singles wins on courts three and four. However, Hatton never looked back after her fast start in the set, holding on for the 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win on court six in her hometown to knot the match at 2-2. Hatton has won eight of her last ten singles matches dating to Jan. 13.
Miyuko Kimoto, ranked 100th nationally, upended Mayorova on court two in straight sets, turning attention to Louka on court one and Thompson on court five.
Louka earned a crucial break as Elde served for the match up 5-4 in the third set but Elde would break again to take a 6-5 lead. Meanwhile, Thompson would get out to a quick lead in the third set and cruise to the 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 comeback victory and tie the match at 3-3.
Back on one, Louka would break yet again to send the match decision to a third-set tiebreaker against Elde. The Syracuse sophomore would jump out to a 3-1 lead, and hold on for a 7-3 win in the tiebreaker to clinch the match.
Next Up: Clemson plays at Boston College on Sunday at 10 a.m.
BOX SCORE
Doubles (3,1)Thompson/Louka (CU) def. Kozyreva/Fonte (SYR), 6-3Mayorova/Van Zyl (CU) vs. Kimoto/Ito (SYR), 5-5 unfinishedHatton/Tsyurpalevych (CU) def. Kanapatskaya/Elde (SYR), 6-4
Singles (4,3,6,2,5,1)Emilie Elde (SYR) def. Eleni Louka (CU), 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(3)#100 Miyuka Kimoto (SYR) def. Cristina Mayorova (CU), 7-6, 6-4Viktoriya Kanapatskaya (SYR) def. Alina Tsyurpalevych (CU), 6-1, 6-2Polina Kozyreva (SYR) def. Dani Medvedeva (CU), 6-2, 6-0Jenna Thompson (CU) def. Anastasia Sysoeva (SYR), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2Sophia Hatton (CU) def. Shiori Ito (SYR), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
