Auburn Men’s Tennis Gears Up for Road Test Against Clemson
Auburn men’s tennis is back on the road this Friday, heading to Clemson for a nonconference showdown that promises to be a real gut check early in the season. First serve is set for 4 p.m. CT at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility in Clemson, South Carolina - a match that was originally slated for Feb. 1 but got pushed back due to weather.
Now, with the skies clear and the courts ready, Auburn is looking to build on a strong start to its season. The Tigers roll into this one with a 6-1 record, fresh off a competitive showing at ITA Kickoff Weekend in Starkville.
There, they notched a solid win over Alabama before falling to a tough Mississippi State squad ranked No. 7 in the country. That kind of weekend - a mix of confidence and reality check - can be exactly what a team needs to sharpen its edge.
Assistant coach Trey Morris knows what’s coming. “It’s going to be a good test for us,” he said.
“Clemson has put together a good roster, and they’ve got a strong program. We expect nothing less than a great fight from them, especially playing at their place.”
But Morris also made it clear: this Auburn squad is coming together in a big way, and they believe their best tennis is still ahead of them.
Clemson enters Friday’s match at 2-1, with an early stumble against LSU but bounce-back wins over No. 14 South Carolina and Harvard.
That résumé shows they’re not just dangerous - they’re battle-tested. Playing them on their home court only adds to the challenge.
One of the biggest bright spots for Auburn this season has been freshman Manel Lazaro. The newcomer has been lights out in singles play, going a perfect 7-0 to start his collegiate career.
That includes a gritty, three-set win over No. 34 Bryan Hernandez Cortes of Mississippi State - a match that showed Lazaro’s poise under pressure and his ability to hang with top-tier talent.
In doubles, the Blaydes brothers - Billy and Freddy - have been making noise of their own. The duo is 3-1 in dual matches and picked up a signature win over Mississippi State’s second-ranked pair, Petar Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez Martinez. That kind of result doesn’t just build confidence - it puts the rest of the country on notice.
Auburn’s individual rankings reflect the depth and talent on this roster. Hamza Nasridinov comes in at No. 57 in singles, Billy Blaydes sits at No. 62, and Lazaro has already cracked the top 100 at No. 94 - a rare feat for a freshman this early in the season.
Fans can follow Friday's match with live video and scoring available at ClemsonTigers.com. For Auburn, this is more than just another road match - it’s a chance to keep building momentum, test themselves against a quality opponent, and continue shaping a team that looks ready to make some noise when SEC play rolls around.