Ratiu Goes Undefeated at Gamecock Kickoff

Friday, January 5

Columbia, S.C.

University of Georgia

Gamecock Kickoff

Georgia tennis player Niels Ratiu during Georgia’s first round match of the 2023 Southern Intercollegiate Championships at Henry Feild Stadium inside the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga., on Friday, September 29, 2023. (Kari Hodges/UGAAA)

Photo by: Kari Hodges/UGAAA

January 07, 2024 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Freshman Niels Ratiu of the Georgia men's tennis team went undefeated in singles and doubles at the Gamecock Kickoff this weekend, picking up a pair of wins inside the Carolina Tennis Center on Sunday.

The Liège, Belgium native is now 8-6 in singles and 11-3 in doubles on the year after going 3-0 in both competitions this weekend. Ratiu won two of his three singles matches in straight sets and played with different doubles partners each day.

"Our team played exceptionally well today," head coach Manuel Diaz said. "We went 3-0 in our top doubles matches and had great singles performances from Niels, Ryan and Cyrus against excellent opponents. These matches were a great opportunity to get better. We will be using the next few weeks to work hard and get ready for the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Athens at the end of the month. We are looking forward to introducing our young team to our fans."

The Bulldogs won three of their final four doubles matches this weekend, with all three wins coming from pairs playing in their first matches together. Thomas Paulsell and Ryan Colby picked up the win against Karlis Ozolins and Will Mroz of Illinois while Freddy Blaydes and Ratiu beat Illinois' Hunter Heck and Kenta Miyoshi, with both matches finishing in a 6-4 result. Blaydes, who began his Bulldog career on Saturday, won both of his doubles matches at the event. Miguel Perez Peña and Cyrus Mahjoob picked up a 7-5 win against Tyler Bowers and Jeremy Zhang as well.

Georgia totaled 11 singles wins this weekend, five of which came on Sunday. No. 41 Paulsell won his second ranked match of the season with a three-set victory over No. 78 Mathis Bondaz in a 6-1, 5-7, 7-5 decision, winning the final five games in the third set. No. 36 Colby also picked up a win against a ranked opponent, defeating No. 92 Casey Hoole of South Carolina 7-6(4), 6-1 for his fourth ranked victory this year. Filipe Costa, No. 112 Mahjoob and Ratiu all won their matches in straight sets.

Georgia will begin its dual match season during the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Kickoff Weekend at the Athens Regional inside the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The Bulldogs will host Louisiana for its first match on Sunday, Jan. 28 and play either conference foes Auburn or No. 19 Texas A&M the following day. The winner of the event will clinch a spot at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships on Feb. 16-19.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's Tennis on social media on Instagram and X @UGATennis, on Facebook @UGAMensTennis, and on the web at GeorgiaDogs.com.

Doubles Results
Day One
Niels Ratiu/Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. Oscar Pinto Sansano/German Samofalov (VCU) 6-4
Romain Gales/Matisse Bobichon (VCU) def. Ryan Colby/Filipe Costa (UGA) 6-1
Hamza El Amine/Mathis Bondaz (VCU) def. Miguel Perez Peña/Cyrus Mahjoob (UGA) 6-4
Karis Ozolins/William Mroz (Ill.) def. Parker Jacques/Davis Taylor (UGA) 6-0
Day Two
Cyrus Mahjoob/Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) def. Sean Daryabeigi (South Carolina)/Jeremy Zhang (Ill.) 6-4*
No. 42 Niels Ratiu/Ryan Colby (UGA) def. Casey Hoole/Carter Morgan (South Carolina) 6-4
Freddy Blaydes/Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. Jelani Sarr/Lucas Andrade Da Silva (South Carolina) 6-3
Day Three
Oscar Pinto Sansano/German Samofalov (VCU) def. Parker Mariencheck/Parker Jacques (UGA) 6-3
Thomas Paulsell/Ryan Colby (UGA) def. Karlis Ozolins/Will Mroz (ILL) 6-4
Niels Ratiu/Freddy Blaydes (UGA) def. Hunter Heck/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 6-4
Miguel Perez Peña/Cyrus Mahjoob (UGA) def. Tyler Bowers/Jeremy Zhang (ILL) 7-5

Singles Results
Day One
Romain Gales (VCU) def. Parker Mariencheck (UGA) 7-6(4), 7-5
Hamza El Amine (VCU) def. Davis Taylor (UGA) 6-3, 6-1
Filipe Costa (UGA) def. Oliver Okonkwo (Ill.) 6-2, 6-3
No. 55 Karlis Ozolins (Ill.) def. No. 41 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-4, 6-4
No. 17 Kenta Miyoshi (Ill.) def. No. 112 Cyrus Mahjoob (UGA) 7-5, 6-1
No. 46 Hunter Heck (Ill.) def. No. 43 Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) 6-2, 6-2
Niels Ratiu (UGA) def. Jeremy Zhang (Ill.) 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-1
No. 36 Ryan Colby (UGA) def. William Mroz (Ill.) 6-2, 6-4
Tyler Bowers (Ill.) def. Parker Jacques (UGA) 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
No. 78 Mathis Bondaz (VCU) def. Parker Mariencheck (UGA) 6-1, 6-3
Day Two
Jeremy Zhang (Ill.) def. Filipe Costa (UGA) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(5)
Tyler Bowers (Ill.) def. Parker Mariencheck (UGA) 7-6(7), 6-2
Lucas Horve (Ill.) def. Parker Jacques (UGA) 6-4, 6-4
No. 92 Casey Hoole (South Carolina) def. Davis Taylor (UGA) 6-4*
No. 112 Cyrus Mahjoob (UGA) def. No. 78 Mathis Bondaz (VCU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
No. 90 Matisse Bobichon (VCU) def. No. 36 Ryan Colby (UGA) 7-6(6), 7-5
Niels Ratiu (UGA) def. Romain Gales (VCU) 6-0, 6-2
No. 46 Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) def. Oscar Pinto Sansano (VCU) 6-3, 6-2
Hamza El Amine (VCU) def. No. 41 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-0
German Samofalov (VCU) def. Freddy Blaydes (UGA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Day Three
No. 41 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. No. 78 Mathis Bondaz (VCU) 6-1, 5-7, 7-5
Tyler Bowers (Ill.) def. Davis Taylor (UGA) 6-4, 6-2
Jeremy Zhang (Ill.) def. Parker Jacques (UGA) 6-2, 6-0
Filipe Costa (UGA) def. Lucas Horve (Ill.) 6-4, 6-0
Niels Ratiu (UGA) def. Lucas Andrade da Silva (South Carolina) 6-3, 7-5
Jelani Sarr (South Carolina) def. No. 43 Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) 6-2, 6-1
No. 112 Cyrus Mahjoob (UGA) def. Carter Morgan (South Carolina) 6-1, 6-0
No. 36 Ryan Colby (UGA) def. No. 92 Casey Hoole (South Carolina) 7-6(4), 6-1
Sean Daryabeigi (South Carolina) def. Freddy Blaydes (UGA) 7-6(3), 6-2

* indicates an exhibition match that will not count towards the players' records