Friday, February 26
Clemson, S.C.
2:30 PM
North Carolina
4
at
0
Clemson
Rinky Hijikata
No. 1 Men's Tennis Blanks Clemson, 4-0
February 26, 2021 | Men's Tennis
CLEMSON, S.C.–The top-ranked North Carolina men's tennis team opened Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 4-0 win over Clemson on Friday afternoon at the Duckworth Family Tennis Facility.
Tar Heel sophomore Rinky Hijikata, ranked No. 55 nationally, won the clinching singles match at No. 2 singles, coming from behind to defeat Teodor Giusca, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.
Benjamin Sigouin and Brian Cernoch also won their singles matches. Ranked 40th nationally, Sigouin swept Yizhou Liu, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 1 singles. Cernoch beat Ryuhei Azuma, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 3.
The Tar Heels started the afternoon by winning the doubles point. Cernoch and William Blumberg, ranked No. 6 in the nation, beat Giusca and Liu, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles. Meanwhile, Adam Neff and Mac Kiger won at No. 3 doubles, 7-5, over Carlos Kelaidis and Andrew Puscas.
UNC will return to the court on Sunday at noon at Georgia Tech.
Tar Heel sophomore Rinky Hijikata, ranked No. 55 nationally, won the clinching singles match at No. 2 singles, coming from behind to defeat Teodor Giusca, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles.
Benjamin Sigouin and Brian Cernoch also won their singles matches. Ranked 40th nationally, Sigouin swept Yizhou Liu, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 1 singles. Cernoch beat Ryuhei Azuma, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 3.
The Tar Heels started the afternoon by winning the doubles point. Cernoch and William Blumberg, ranked No. 6 in the nation, beat Giusca and Liu, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles. Meanwhile, Adam Neff and Mac Kiger won at No. 3 doubles, 7-5, over Carlos Kelaidis and Andrew Puscas.
UNC will return to the court on Sunday at noon at Georgia Tech.
Tennis Match Results
North Carolina vs Clemson
Feb 26, 2021 at Clemson, S.C.
(The Duckworth Family Tennis Facility)
#1 North Carolina 4, Clemson 0
Singles competition
1. #40 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. Yizhou Liu (MCU21) 6-2, 6-2
2. #55 Rinky Hijikata (NC) def. Teodor Giusca (MCU21) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Ryuhei Azuma (MCU21) 6-3, 6-3
4. Carlos Kelaidis (MCU21) vs. #100 Josh Peck (NC) 7-6 (7-3), 1-5, unfinished
5. Spencer Whitaker (MCU21) vs. Logan Zapp (NC) 6-3, 6-7 (0-7), 1-2, unfinished
6. Jorge Plans Gonzalez (MCU21) vs. Anuj Watane (NC`) 6-2, 5-6, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #6 William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Teodor Giusca/Yizhou Liu (MCU21) 6-3
2. Spencer Whitaker/Ryuhei Azuma (MCU21) vs. Rinky Hijikata/Benjamin Sigouin (NC) 6-6 (1-2), unfinished
3. Adam Neff/Mac Kiger (NC) def. Carlos Kelaidis/Andrew Puscas (MCU21) 7-5
Match Notes:
North Carolina 7-0 (1-0 ACC); National ranking #1; Clemson 5-5 (1-2 ACC)
Order of finish: Doubles (); Singles (3,1,2)
North Carolina vs Clemson
Feb 26, 2021 at Clemson, S.C.
(The Duckworth Family Tennis Facility)
#1 North Carolina 4, Clemson 0
Singles competition
1. #40 Benjamin Sigouin (NC) def. Yizhou Liu (MCU21) 6-2, 6-2
2. #55 Rinky Hijikata (NC) def. Teodor Giusca (MCU21) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Ryuhei Azuma (MCU21) 6-3, 6-3
4. Carlos Kelaidis (MCU21) vs. #100 Josh Peck (NC) 7-6 (7-3), 1-5, unfinished
5. Spencer Whitaker (MCU21) vs. Logan Zapp (NC) 6-3, 6-7 (0-7), 1-2, unfinished
6. Jorge Plans Gonzalez (MCU21) vs. Anuj Watane (NC`) 6-2, 5-6, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #6 William Blumberg/Brian Cernoch (NC) def. Teodor Giusca/Yizhou Liu (MCU21) 6-3
2. Spencer Whitaker/Ryuhei Azuma (MCU21) vs. Rinky Hijikata/Benjamin Sigouin (NC) 6-6 (1-2), unfinished
3. Adam Neff/Mac Kiger (NC) def. Carlos Kelaidis/Andrew Puscas (MCU21) 7-5
Match Notes:
North Carolina 7-0 (1-0 ACC); National ranking #1; Clemson 5-5 (1-2 ACC)
Order of finish: Doubles (); Singles (3,1,2)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
#1 Singles Match
12
66
Yizhou Liu / 0 [CU]
22
#2 Singles Match
123
166
Teodor Giusca / 0 [CU]
622
#3 Singles Match
12
66
Ryuhei Azuma / 0 [CU]
33
#4 Singles Match
123
650
Carlos Kelaidis / 0 [CU]
71UF
#5 Singles Match
1234
3720
Spencer Whitaker / 0 [CU]
661UF
#6 Singles Match
123
260
Jorge Plans Gonzalez / 0 [CU]
65UF
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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