Clemson Men’s โTennis Shines with strong Performances in Fall Tournaments
CHAPEL HILL, NC & MONTREAL, CANADA – The Clemson men’s tennis team delivered a weekend โof remarkable results, showcasing โtheir talent onโค both โsidesโฃ of the borderโข with strongโ showings at the โคITA 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 โฃto compete with the nation’s โbest.
Head Coach Brandon โฃWagnerโฃ saw success from multiple players, led by standoutโ performances from Marko Mesarovic โฃin Canada and Henrik Bladelius at โฃthe sectional event.
Mesarovic battled his way intoโข the ITF M25 Montreal bracket, winning two qualifying matchesโข withoutโค dropping aโ set. The junior thenโข pulled off a significant upset, defeating ATP-ranked No. 334 Gabi Adrian Boitan, a former Baylor player who peaked at no.5 in theโ collegiate rankings in 2022, withโฃ a decisive 6-2, 6-3 victory. He advanced to the quarterfinals after Alafia Ayeni retired, before fallingโ to eventual tournament runner-upโ taha baadi. This win marks โฃthe highest-ranked victory of โขMesarovic’sโฃ career.
Meanwhile, freshman Henrik Bladelius made waves โat the ITA East Sectionalโ Championships in Chapel Hill. โฃAfter a straight-set win to reach the second round, the Swedish newcomer faced a tough challenge from Virginia’s stiles Brockett,โ rallying from a set down to winโค 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. bladelius โultimately fell โคin the quarterfinals to North Carolina’s โขRoan Jones, ranked No. 38 nationally โคin โcollegiate singles, in a similarly foughtโ match, โ4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Edoardo Chรฉriรฉ Ligniรจre and Noa Vukadin also competed at the ITA East Sectional Championships, contributing to theโ team’s overall โpositive momentum.
The success of individual players โฃunderscoresโข the team dynamic within college tennis. As the article states,”Even in an individual sport,one man’s – or two โขmen’sโ – success is felt by the whole team.”
Looking ahead, Romain Gales is poised to represent clemsonโฃ onโข a national stage. He has qualified forโ the NCAA singles championships – the frist โTiger to do so since 2013 – and awaits the bracket release on โคSaturday at 6 p.m. Play begins November 18thโ in โขOrlando, Florida.