Clemson Men’s Tennis Shines with strong Performances in Fall Tournaments
CHAPEL HILL, NC & MONTREAL, CANADA – The Clemson men’s tennis team delivered a weekend of remarkable results, showcasing their talent on both sides of the border with strong showings at the ITA East Sectional Championships and the ITF M25 Montreal tournament. While fall tennis serves as a crucial growth period, the Tigers are proving they’re ready to compete with the nation’s best.
Head Coach Brandon Wagner saw success from multiple players, led by standout performances from Marko Mesarovic in Canada and Henrik Bladelius at the sectional event.
Mesarovic battled his way into the ITF M25 Montreal bracket, winning two qualifying matches without dropping a set. The junior then pulled off a significant upset, defeating ATP-ranked No. 334 Gabi Adrian Boitan, a former Baylor player who peaked at no.5 in the collegiate rankings in 2022, with a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory. He advanced to the quarterfinals after Alafia Ayeni retired, before falling to eventual tournament runner-up taha baadi. This win marks the highest-ranked victory of Mesarovic’s career.
Meanwhile, freshman Henrik Bladelius made waves at the ITA East Sectional Championships in Chapel Hill. After a straight-set win to reach the second round, the Swedish newcomer faced a tough challenge from Virginia’s stiles Brockett, rallying from a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. bladelius ultimately fell in the quarterfinals to North Carolina’s Roan Jones, ranked No. 38 nationally in collegiate singles, in a similarly fought match, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Edoardo Chérié Lignière and Noa Vukadin also competed at the ITA East Sectional Championships, contributing to the team’s overall positive momentum.
The success of individual players underscores the team dynamic within college tennis. As the article states,”Even in an individual sport,one man’s – or two men’s – success is felt by the whole team.”
Looking ahead, Romain Gales is poised to represent clemson on a national stage. He has qualified for the NCAA singles championships – the frist Tiger to do so since 2013 – and awaits the bracket release on Saturday at 6 p.m. Play begins November 18th in Orlando, Florida.