TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Vanderbilt men’s tennis program began the 2024–25 season on Friday at the SEC Challenge hosted by Alabama. The Commodores competed in three separate draws: Crimson, White, and Houndstooth.
The doubles pairing of Hugo Coquelin and Henry Ruger kicked off the action in the Crimson draw. The duo downed Ole Miss’ Noah Schlagenhauf and Isac Strömberg 8-4 before splitting into singles competition. Schlagenhauf captured the momentum for the Rebels, tying the score at 1-1 after defeating Ruger 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-0. Coquelin returned the favor, clinching the match for the Dores with a victory over Stromberg 6-0, 3-6, 6-2.
In the White draw, the Commodores had two separate teams competing: Nathan Cox and Michael Ross played as Vandy Gold, while Dylan Charlap and Callum Markowitz made up Vandy Black. Cox and Ross matched up with Jake Kennedy and Will Nolan of Auburn in their opener. The pair started the match with an 8-4 doubles victory. The Tigers regained after Nolan took a back-and-forth match from Cox 0-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. Ross, however, sealed the duo’s push to the semifinals, overcoming Kennedy in straight sets 6-2, 7-5. The freshman duo of Charlap and Markowitz grabbed an opening 8-6 win over Kentucky’s Charlelie Cosnet and Matt Rankin but could not replicate the result in singles. Cosnet defeated Charlap 6-1, 7-5, and Rankin conquered Markowitz 7-6 (3), 6-2 to push the Wildcats into the next round.
Tighe Brunetti and Giuseppe Cerasuolo rounded out the Commodore tournament lineup in the Houndstooth draw. The doubles team faltered early in an 8-4 loss to Benjamin Martin and Matthieu Chambonniere of Ole Miss. In singles play, Brunetti evened the score 1-1 with a victory over Martin 6-4, 6-2. The Rebels managed to move on after Chambonniere outlasted Cerasuolo 7-6 (2), 6-2.
Vanderbilt returns to competition on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT for Day 2 of the SEC Challenge.
