Cards Defeat Clemson 4-3

Friday, April 5

Clemson, SC

4:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

Clemson

Sergio Hernandez celebrates in the match against against Duke

April 05, 2019 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Freshman Sergio Hernandez clinched the win as the Cards overcome a 2-0 deficit

By: Lori Korte

Freshman Sergio Hernandez's three-set win at No. 3 singles lifted the University of Louisville men's tennis team to a 4-3 win over Clemson in an ACC matchup Friday evening at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility. The Cardinals (15-9, 3-6 ACC) will continue their weekend road swing with another ACC match on Sunday at No. 49 Georgia Tech.

"It was a satisfying win for all of us," said UofL head coach Rex Ecarma. "Clemson played very well and took a 2-0 lead. They have a loud crowd, the best in our conference in opinion. Everyone cheers here, young and old. This facility is the best in the conference as well. Sergio took it to another level to close out a good road win 6-3 in the third. He is a very special freshman, one of the best in the ACC and the entire country."

Clemson (8-14, 1-8 ACC) started the match by taking the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. The Tigers gained an early advantage on court one where Simon Baudry and Yizhou Liu bested the No. 90-ranked duo of senior Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff and freshman Fabien Salle 6-2. The Cards evened the tally at the No. 3 spot, when senior Brandon Lancaster and freshman Alex Wesbrooks teamed to beat Teodor Guisca and Carlos Kelaidis 6-4. The point was decided on court two where Pierre-Louis Dodens and Jacob Jahn edged junior Clement Filho and senior Federico Gomez 6-4.

In singles action, the Tigers increased the lead to 2-0 with Baudry's 6-2, 6-3 win against No. 115 Morin-Kougoucheff at the No. 1 spot. Louisville got on the scoreboard when Gomez topped Dodens 6-4, 6-4 at No. 5. Salle registered a 6-3, 6-3 win over Kelaidis at No. 4 to even the score at 2-2.

Filho put the Cards in top with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) decision against Jahn at the five spot, but the Tigers countered with a win at No. 2 when Liu outlasted Lancaster 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

The match came down to court three where Hernandez was engaged in a three-set battle with Guisca. The players split sets with Hernandez winning the first 7-6 (3) and Guisca taking the second 6-4 to force the decisive third set. Fernandez prevailed 6-3 in the third to clinch the victory.