The ITA Kickoff Weekend got underway Sunday as the 19th-ranked Georgia men’s tennis team beat Louisiana 4-0 in the opening match. The match originally set to take place in Athens was moved to Clemson, South Carolina due to weather in the area.

No. 41 ranked Thomas Paulsell won the third match-clinching victory of his career defeating Alejandro Sanchez Gonzalez 7-5, 6-3 after falling behind 4-1 in the first set. Paulsell fought back to win 12 of the final 16 games, securing the Bulldogs’ win. Ryan Colby, No. 36, earned his 11th singles win of his career at Georgia over Vasil Dimitrov by a 7-5, 6-3 score.

Freshman Freddy Blaydes won his third-straight singles match in straight sets with a 6-1, 6-1 score. He has dropped only nine games across three matches in the dual-match season.

“I thought we played a great match today and I’m super proud of our guys,” head coach Manuel Diaz said. “Our doubles play was great. It was a job well done by Louisiana. They made it tough on us.”

To open the match, Georgia beat Louisiana in doubles. Colby and Paulsell defeated Sanchez Gonzalez and Leonard Tramolay by a score of 6-2 for their third match-win together. Freshmen partners Blaydes and Neils Ratiu earned their first win together in their match, winning 6-4 against Dimitrov and Mason Landreth.

The Bulldogs won the first sets on all six courts in singles action. In addition to noteworthy wins from Paulsell, Colby, and Blaydes, No. 43 Miguel Perez Peña, Ratiu, and Cyrus Mahjoob all earned wins on their respective courts.

“Texas A&M is a very good team, so this will be a big challenge. I am excited to see our Bulldog faithful out at Dan Magill Tennis Complex tomorrow afternoon,” Diaz said.

With the sweep on day one, the Bulldogs will advance to the final and face No. 18 Texas A&M on Monday at 2:30 p.m. in Athens at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.