Feb. 9, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn men's tennis team came from behind to post a dramatic 4-3 victory over South Alabama Friday evening at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
"It was right down to the very end," Auburn coach Bobby Reynolds said. "Brandon (Laubser) was up and down, then he dealt with the emotions of coming back in a third set. He loves to play. He loves being out on the court. It looks like I'm worried, but I'm never really worried when it comes down to him.
"I'm really happy with our guys. It's the second match in a row with a little adversity, coming down to the end and being able to pull it out. That's something to build on."
South Alabama captured a hard-fought doubles point, as Clement Marzol and Loic Cloes of USA won an 8-6 tiebreaker to take a 7-6 decision on court one over Auburn's Edward Nguyen and Matteo De Vincentis. On court three, Auburn's Carles Sarrio and Diego Chavarria upped their season doubles record to 6-2 this spring with a 6-1 victory over Maxime Lapraille and Santiago Di Loreto.
In singles play, Auburn got off to a strong start, taking the first set in four of six matches. Carles Sarrio made quick work of USA's Sacha Modica on court three, by a 6-0, 6-3 score, and Olle Thestrup gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Olivier Gingras on court four.
South Alabama tied the match 2-2 with a win on court one, and the team score moved to 3-3 when Tiger freshman Tad Maclean posted a 7-5, 7-6 (7-2) win on court five, winning a second-set tiebreaker, and the Jaguars' Loic Cloes outlasted Matteo De Vincentis in three sets on court two.
That left the heroics to Auburn junior Brandon Laubser, who clinched the victory in three sets on court six with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 win over Maxime Lapraille.
The Tigers are now 8-3 on the spring season, while the Jaguars are 1-3. Auburn returns to action February 23-24 competing in the 70th annual Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic played at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.
Auburn 4, South Alabama 3
Singles
Clement Marzol (USA) def. Edward Nguyen (AU) 6-3, 7-5
Loic Cloes (USA) def. Matteo De Vincentis (AU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Carles Sarrio (AU) def. Sacha Modica (USA) 6-0, 6-3
Olle Thestrup (AU) def. Olivier Gingras (USA) 6-3, 6-3
Tad Maclean (AU) def. Lucas Gonzalez (USA) 7-5, 7-6 (7-2)
Brandon Laubser (AU) def. Maxime Lapraille (USA) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2
Doubles Marzol/Cloes (USA) def. Nguyen/DeVincentis (AU) 7-6 (8-6)
Gingras/Modica (USA) def. Maclean/Thestrup (AU) 7-5
Sarrio/Diego Chavarria (AU) def. Lapraille/diLoreto (USA) 6-1
Time of match: 2:52; Order of finish: Doubles: 3,2,1; Singles: 3,4,1,5,2,6 Official: Donna Jerome