No. 1 Men's Tennis Blanks Clemson, 4-0

Friday, February 26

Clemson, S.C.

2:30 PM

North Carolina

Clemson

Rinky Hijikata

February 26, 2021 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

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.

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)