Auburn Men’s Tennis Stuns No. 16 Clemson in Statement Road Win
CLEMSON, S.C. - In a gritty, gutsy performance on the road, Auburn men’s tennis delivered one of its biggest wins of the season, knocking off No. 16 Clemson 5-2 Friday night at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility.
This wasn’t just a win-it was a statement. Against a nationally ranked opponent heading to ITA Indoors, Auburn showed poise, depth, and a whole lot of fight.
It started with doubles, and as any college tennis coach will tell you, that opening point can set the tone for everything. The Tigers came out sharp, and the Blaydes brothers-Billy and Freddy-wasted no time making their presence felt. They rolled to a 6-1 win over Viktor Markov and Henrik Bladelius, putting Auburn in the driver’s seat early.
Clemson didn’t back down, though. The Tigers from the ACC answered with a clutch tiebreak win at No. 3 doubles, setting up a pressure-packed decider on court two.
That’s where Joey Phillips and Nicholas Heng stepped up. They jumped out to a quick lead in the tiebreak and never looked back, sealing it 7-4 and giving Auburn the all-important doubles point.
Momentum firmly in hand, Auburn carried that energy into singles-and they came out firing. All six Auburn players took the first set on their respective courts.
That kind of across-the-board dominance doesn’t happen by accident. It’s preparation, confidence, and execution.
Nicholas Heng was rock solid at No. 3 singles. After a tight first set against Matisse Farzam, he pulled away late to win 6-4.
In the second, tied at four games apiece, Heng found another gear-breaking serve and closing it out 6-4, 6-4. That’s his ninth win of the season and his fifth in dual-match play, and he’s looking every bit like a player hitting his stride.
Billy Blaydes, meanwhile, was clinical at No. 2.
He cruised through the first set 6-1 against Noa Vukadin, then had to dig deep in the second. Down 3-1 early, Blaydes flipped the script, clawed his way into a tiebreak, and took it 7-4 to give Auburn a 3-0 cushion.
Clemson punched back with a win at the top singles spot, but Auburn didn’t flinch. Freddy Blaydes, who had already helped secure the doubles point, came through when it mattered most. After splitting the first two sets at No. 4 singles, he turned it on in the third-racing out to a 5-0 lead and finishing it off 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to clinch the team victory.
And even with the match already decided, Auburn kept grinding.
Freshman Alan Bojarski battled through a marathon at No. 5, going the distance in a three-set thriller against Manuel Plunger. Bojarski took the first set in a tiebreak, dropped the second, then gutted out another tiebreak in the third to take it 7-6 (2), 5-7, 7-6 (3).
That kind of fight from a freshman? That bodes well for Auburn’s depth moving forward.
The win moves Auburn to 7-1 on the season and gives them a 6-4 edge in the all-time series against Clemson. More importantly, it gives them a confidence boost heading into SEC play. The Tigers now get a bit of a breather before hosting Florida on February 21 at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
This Auburn squad isn’t just winning-they’re building something. And Friday night in Clemson, they showed they’re ready to take on anyone.
Final Score: Auburn 5, No. 16 Clemson 2
Singles Results:
- Viktor Markov (CU) def.
Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
- Billy Blaydes (AUB) def.
Noa Vukadin (CU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
- Nicholas Heng (AUB) def.
Matisse Farzam (CU) 6-4, 6-4
- Freddy Blaydes (AUB) def.
Edoardo C Ligniere (CU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
- Alan Bojarski (AUB) def.
Manuel Plunger (CU) 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 7-6 (7-3)
- Henrik Bladelius (CU) def.
Manel Lazaro (AUB) 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4
Doubles Results:
- Blaydes/Blaydes (AUB) def.
Markov/Bladelius (CU) 6-1
- Phillips/Heng (AUB) def.
Farzam/Vukadin (CU) 7-6 (7-4)
- Plunger/Ligniere (CU) def.
Nasridinov/Bojarski (AUB) 7-6 (7-2)
Next up: Auburn vs. Florida, Feb. 21 at noon CT in Auburn.