Gandonou Wins Draw At Mercer Gridiron Classic, Padio Runner-Up

Friday, October 4

Macon, Ga.

All Day

Mercer University

Mercer Gridiron Classic

Gandonou Wins Draw At Mercer Gridiron Classic, Padio Runner-Up

10/6/2024 7:06:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score Results

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

MACON – Amen Prince Gandonou won a three-set thriller for the second-straight day to complete his unblemished run through the Flight A2 singles, while fellow newcomer Hod'Abalo Isak Padio came up just short with a three-set loss in the finals of the Flight A1 tournament, to highlight action for the Mercer men's tennis team at the annual Mercer Gridiron Classic.

Gandonou dropped his opening set with Clemson's Nathan Pitts in Sunday's title bout, but rebounded with 7-5 scores in the ensuing two sets to claim the hardware. Gandonou also won the final two sets – 6-1 and 6-2 – in Saturday's semifinal matchup with North Florida's Lorenzo Leti Messina to keep his title run alive.

Padio was delivered an opening-round bye on Friday due to an injury withdrawal, but came out of the gates on fire on Saturday with straight-sets wins over Troy's Yeray Andres Pastor and Georgia Southern's Pol Del Castillo to punch his ticket to Sunday's finals. He won a 6-4 opening set with Clemson's Stewart Aronson in the championship match, but ultimately succumbed via close second and third sets.

The Bears also got outstanding showings from its doubles teams as Gandonou and Padio teamed up for a pair of victories, as did the tandem of newcomer Tom Hagelauer and junior Marceau Fouilhoux. Hagelauer also picked up singles wins over North Florida's Neill Pillai and North Florida's Spencer Dorosheff.

The Orange & Black will continue the fall portion of its 2024-25 schedule on Thursday when it heads to Lake Nona, Fla., for the six-day ITA Regional Championships at the USTA National Campus.