USC Men's Tennis Outlasts Cal in Gritty 4-3 Road Win
In a clash that lived up to its billing, No. 22 USC men’s tennis edged out No.
23 California, 4-3, in a tense, three-hour duel Saturday morning at the Hellman Tennis Complex in Berkeley. The Trojans walked away with their second ranked win of the season, leaning on early momentum, clutch performances, and a gritty finish from sophomore Andrin Casanova to seal the deal.
Let’s break down how this one unfolded-and why it mattered.
Doubles Spark Sets the Tone
The Trojans wasted no time setting the tone in doubles. On court three, Max Exsted and Nathan Trouve came out firing, taking down Cal’s Alex Aney and Leonardo Cattaneo, 6-3. That win put early pressure on the Golden Bears, and USC’s top duo answered the call.
Casanova and Jack McCarthy, facing the No. 55-ranked pair of Timofey Stepanov and Tiago Silva, delivered in a high-stakes moment. Their 6-4 victory on court one clinched the doubles point for USC and gave the Trojans the all-important 1-0 lead heading into singles.
It was a strong statement-especially on the road against a closely ranked rival.
Singles: Early Dominance, Mid-Match Drama
With momentum on their side, USC struck quickly in singles. Branko Djuric was locked in from the first serve on court one, overpowering Silva in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Djuric’s performance was clinical-precise, aggressive, and composed-and it pushed USC ahead 2-0.
Then came Max Exsted, who continued his stellar day on court four. The freshman didn’t drop a game in the opening set and cruised past Andrea Meduri, 6-0, 6-3, putting the Trojans on the brink of clinching the match.
But Cal wasn’t going away quietly.
The Golden Bears clawed back with wins on courts three and five. Stepanov took down McCarthy, 6-2, 6-1, and Bernardo Munk Mesa followed with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Niels Hoffman to make it 3-2.
That set up a dramatic finish-and court two delivered.
Three-Set Thriller Sets Up the Decider
In one of the tightest matches of the day, Filip Lechno-Wasiutyski and Nathan Trouve battled through three grueling sets. Lechno-Wasiutyski took the opener 7-5, but Trouve answered in the second, 6-4. The third went to a tiebreak, and Cal’s veteran came through, winning it 7-3 to tie the overall match at 3-3.
That left it all up to Casanova on court six.
Casanova Closes It Out
With the match-and the day-on his shoulders, Casanova showed poise beyond his years. After taking the first set 6-3, he dropped the second 4-6 as Lenn Luemkemann mounted a push. But Casanova regrouped and delivered when it mattered most, sealing the win with a 6-3 third set.
It was a fitting finish to a match that had everything: early dominance, mid-match adversity, and a pressure-packed finale.
What It Means
This win moves USC to 4-2 on the season and gives them a key ranked road victory-something that always carries weight when postseason resumes are built. It also showed the kind of resilience and depth that can define a team’s identity moving forward.
The Trojans now turn their attention to a quick turnaround, facing Stanford on Sunday to wrap up their Bay Area swing.
If Saturday’s performance is any indication, this USC squad is starting to find its rhythm-and they’re not backing down from the big moments.