CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s tennis team dropped its ACC opener, 4-3, against Clemson University Sunday at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
“It is simple, we have to get tougher,” head coach Aljosa Piric said. “Going into the ACC season, we know every match is going to be a battle. We have to learn from today’s match and get tougher; otherwise it is going to be a long season.”
The Hurricanes (3-3, 0-1 ACC) opened the match strong with a pair of doubles victories to take the one point advantage.
At No. 1 doubles, seniors Max Andrews and Jesse Flores took down Sam Edwards and Alex Favrot, 6-3. At No. 2, juniors Nile Clark and Piotr Lomacki defeated Robert Dudley and Carlos Kelaidis, 6-3.
In singles, No. 63 Lomacki faced Favrot on court one. The native of Poland won 11 of the opening 12 games, taking the first set, 6-1.
Trailing, 1-6, 0-5, Favrot fought his way back, winning the next six games. At set point, Lomacki forced a tiebreaker, where he earned Miami its second point of the match, winning, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1).
At No. 3, Andrews faced Dudley. The senior fell in the match, 4-6, 4-6, as the Tigers pulled within one point of the Canes.
Clemson (8-2, 1-0 ACC), evened the match at two points apiece when Daffra Sanon defeated junior Christian Langmo, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
Trailing, 0-4, in the opening set, sophomore Dane Dunlap forced a tiebreaker against Kelaidis. Dunlap dropped the tiebreaker, 4-7, before falling in the second set, 4-6.
At match point, the Tigers turned to court four. After dropping the first set to Edwards, 4-6, Flores took the second set, 6-3.
In the final set, Edwards clinched the match for Clemson, taking it, 6-2.
Junior Kevin Bondar concluded the afternoon with a victory over Arturo Pinazo, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 1-0 (10-6).
“We are going to get back to work this week at practice and hopefully correct some things and come back stronger next week,” Piric said. “We have to start by holding ourselves accountable and we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We have to start with ourselves and if we do that, we are going to see improvement.”
Miami will return to the Neil Schiff Tennis Center Saturday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m., against Florida Gulf Coast.
To keep up to date with the men’s tennis team, follow the squad on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @CanesMensTennis.
Clemson 4, Miami 3
Singles Competition
1. #63 Piotr Lomacki (UM) def. Alex Favrot (CU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-1)
2. Daffra Sanon (CU) def. Christian Langmo (UM) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Robert Dudley (CU) def. Max Andrews (UM) 6-4, 6-4
4. Sam Edwards (CU) def. Jesse Flores (UM) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
5. Kevin Bondar (UM) def. Arturo Pinazo (CU) 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 1-0 (10-6)
6. Carlos Kelaidis (CU) def. Dane Dunlap (UM) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. Max Andrews/Jesse Flores (UM) def. Sam Edwards/Alex Favrot (CU) 6-3
2. Nile Clark/Piotr Lomacki (UM) def. Robert Dudley/Carlos Kelaidis (CU) 6-3
3. Dane Dunlap/Christian Langmo (UM) vs. Arturo Pinazo/Daffra Sanon (CU) 4-5, unfinished
