Syracuse Tennis on the Decline after Loss to Clemson
CLEMSON, S.C. – Syracuse tennis (12-11, 5-9 Atlantic Coast) is currently in a tailspin, and it continued on Sunday in a gut-wrenching 4-3 loss to an unranked Clemson team (9-14, 3-10 ACC) in their last dual meet of the regular season. The Orange have now lost three meets in a row and six of their past eight down the stretch. A win would have given them a much-needed momentum boost heading into the ACC tournament.
The Tigers, however, defended their home court and spoiled this narrative by crippling the Orange’s chances of winning a road dual from the start with a sweep on the doubles courts. No. 56 Gabriela Knutson and Miranda Ramirez could not overcome Marie Leduc and Fernanda Navarro, the eighth ranked doubles pair in the nation. That match ended in a 6-1 statement victory for the tiger tag team, which set the tone for the rest of the match, starting with Maria Tritou and Guzal Yusupova’s doubles match.
This is just the second time the two have laced up together in doubles, the first being earlier this weekend in the loss to Duke. Tritou and Yusupova lost their doubles set 6-4, which clinched the doubles point for Clemson, and the eighth-consecutive doubles loss for Syracuse as a team.
But unlike their last two losses, the Orange showed some life. No. 19 Gabriela Knutson defeated No. 82 Marie Leduc in a third pro-set. This is her second consecutive pro-set victory.
On the third singles court, No. 100 Miranda Ramirez won in straight-sets 7-5, 7-5 to continue her hot streak. She has won four of her last five singles matches.
And while Dina Hegab was benched in doubles for the second match in a row, the senior was impressive in her 6-3, 6-1 win on the sixth singles court.
The only problem for the Orange was that Clemson had clinched the dual prior to Syracuse’s singles success.
Sofya Golubovskaya continued to stumble in her 1-6, 2-6 loss to No. 109 Fernanda Navarro. Golubovskaya has now lost five of her last six singles matches. Libi Mesh and Guzal Yuspova also lost in straight sets for Syracuse.
The Orange now prepare for the ACC tournament, which kicks off on Wednesday in Cary, NC. The matchups are yet to be finalized.
bwklein@syr.edu | @BradKlein15
