Bulldogs Storm Back, Defeat No. 56 Vanderbilt, 4-1

Thursday, March 27

Athens, Ga.

6:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

Vanderbilt

Senior Oscar Pinto Sansano during a match against No. 56 Vanderbilt at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Thursday, Mar. 27, 2025.

Photo by: Sofia Yaker/UGAAA

March 27, 2025 | Men's Tennis

Photo Gallery

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia men's tennis team beat No. 56 Vanderbilt, 4-1, on Thursday evening at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The Bulldogs improve to 12-7 (6-3 SEC) overall, and the Commodores fall to 8-12 (1-9 SEC).

*PDF of Full Results Available Here

FAST FACTS:

Vanderbilt took the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. No. 26 Freddy Blaydes/Niels Ratiu grabbed their fifth win of the spring over No. 37 Nathan Cox/Michael Ross on court one.
Senior Ryan Colby was the first off the courts to even the score 1-1 with a win on court two. It was his 4^thconsecutive straight-set win this spring.
Senior Thomas Paulsell returned to winning ways on court three with his third straight-set win of the spring.
Sophomore Niels Ratiu took his match on court five to record his ninth win of the season.
Senior Oscar Pinto Sansano clinched the Georgia win at the No. 4 spot. It was his team-leading 15^th win of the spring on court four, with 14 of his 15 wins coming in straight sets.
The Bulldogs improve to 63-7 all-time against the Commodores.

RESULTS:
Doubles

No. 26 F. Blaydes/N. Ratiu def. No. 37 N. Cox/M. Ross, 6-4
D. Panarin/P. Martinez Gomez def. T. Paulsell/O. Pinto Sansano, 7-5
H. Ruger/D. Charlap def. M. Perez Peña/G. Vulpitta, 6-2

Order of Finish (3,1,2*)
Singles

No. 31 Miguel Perez Peña vs. Danil Panarin, 5-7, 5-4, unfinished
No. 34 Ryan Colby def. Nathan Cox, 6-3, 6-1
No. 25 Thomas Paulsell def. Michael Ross, 6-3, 6-4
Oscar Pinto Sansano def. Henry Ruger, 7-5, 6-3
Niels Ratiu def. Dylan Charlap, 7-6(5), 7-6(5)
Gabriele Vulpitta vs. Callum Markowitz, 6-3, 6-6, unfinished

Order of Finish (2,3,5,4*)

KEY QUOTE:
Head Coach Jamie Hunt
On doubles play…
"I thought in doubles we played really well at number one. I was really proud of the energy we brought. I thought we executed at a really high level. Really proud of their [Blaydes and Ratiu] response after not playing their best last time out. At two, I thought we played really well up until the end. Got a little lucky there are the deuce point. That happens. Doubles is a flip of the coin in college tennis. [Court] three has been tremendous for us all year. They've got an unbelievable record, but it didn't go our way today. I think we didn't return very well, but they've been really strong for us this year."

On singles play…
"Really proud of how we responded after doubles going into singles taking five first sets and really just closing the door. Ryan Colby leading the way just chomping on the guy in the second set, just playing outstanding tennis. Thomas Paulsell at three, same thing. Got his lead and then stayed aggressive. Just really closed it out and a great way to break to win. Miguel at one was fighting, down two breaks, 4-1, got it back, and it was 5-4. Tremendously proud of his fight there. Oscar Pinto, there at four, just doing what he has been doing all year and just being a rock solid point for us. I mean, he's just been so, so good for us down the stretch here. And Niels, I didn't see whole lot of it, but from what I hear, he was really tough after losing his break at 6-5 to go on and play a breaker where he was down, down, down. Stayed tough, played smart, and just really closed it out. Proud of him. There's some things we have to clean up going into Saturday's match against Ole Miss, and we'll address that tomorrow."

Senior Oscar Pinto Sansano
On the performance…
"We'll take the win. I think, up and down the line, we didn't play great," said Oscar Pinto Sansano. "But we got the job done and that's the most important thing. We've been doing the important things every single day, so we just have to be confident for the next match."

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will remain at home to host a doubleheader on Saturday with No. 49 Ole Miss beginning at 1:00 p.m. E.T and North Carolina A&T State beginning at 5:00 p.m. In between the doubles and singles of Saturday's match against the Rebels, the 1985 National Championship team will be recognized, and the first 100 fans at the match will receive a free '1985 National Champions' shirt.

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