Bears Add Flagler Transfer To 2026-27 Arsenal
6/18/2026 10:56:00 AM | Men's Tennis
MACON – Mercer men's tennis head coach Eric Hayes continued to fortify his arsenal for the 2026-27 season on Thursday morning with the addition of Flagler transfer and Frenchman Raphael Rousson who declared his intentions to continue his academic and athletic career with the Bears.
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Rousson, a native of Saint-Cyprien, France, and a product of La French Touch Academy, treks to Macon after helping to pace the Saints to a 24-4 record and the NCAA Division II national championship as a freshman last season. Flagler closed out the campaign with an unblemished 6-0 run in the NCAA postseason, including wins over the top three teams in the nation.
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While playing in the heart of the singles lineup in 2025-26, Rousson churned out a 21-6 mark, including 16 victories amid the traditional spring campaign. He climbed as high as No. 36 in the International Tennis Association's (ITA) collegiate singles rankings following a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 8 Washburn's Benhamin Fock in early March. That triumph came amid a personal 10-match win streak.
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He also picked up three victories on the doubles court, including a dominant 6-2 win on Court No. 3 that keyed a shutout win over in-state rival Palm Beach Atlantic.
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Rousson currently boasts a 12.10 Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) and has played in multiple events on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior World Tennis Tour.Â
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Rousson, a native of Saint-Cyprien, France, and a product of La French Touch Academy, treks to Macon after helping to pace the Saints to a 24-4 record and the NCAA Division II national championship as a freshman last season. Flagler closed out the campaign with an unblemished 6-0 run in the NCAA postseason, including wins over the top three teams in the nation.
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While playing in the heart of the singles lineup in 2025-26, Rousson churned out a 21-6 mark, including 16 victories amid the traditional spring campaign. He climbed as high as No. 36 in the International Tennis Association's (ITA) collegiate singles rankings following a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 8 Washburn's Benhamin Fock in early March. That triumph came amid a personal 10-match win streak.
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He also picked up three victories on the doubles court, including a dominant 6-2 win on Court No. 3 that keyed a shutout win over in-state rival Palm Beach Atlantic.
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Rousson currently boasts a 12.10 Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) and has played in multiple events on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior World Tennis Tour.Â
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