Men’s Tennis: LSU’s Daigle head list of Classic Foes – photo gallery included

Bruce Brown, The Advertiser, Sept. 22, 2016

When Lafayette’s Jordan Daigle transferred to LSU from Virginia in 2014, he was looking for a fresh start closer to home.

Both Daigle and the Tigers have been pleased with the results after two years of All-SEC and All-America acclaim, and he’s primed for a senior year that could end his college days on a high note.

That campaign starts at home as Daigle defends his title and leads No. 35 LSU into action in the John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic at UL’s Culotta Tennis Center that opens Thursday and runs through Sunday.

“Jordan has done a great job in his two years here,” said LSU coach Jeff Brown, who like Jordan is a past champion of the Classic. “And I see a real sense of urgency with him this year. He has a great desire to make this a special year.

“His strength and conditioning are there. He has embraced that. He has improved his shot tolerance, so he can go deeper in a point, and his serve is bigger.

“Jordan is also a very good athlete. I don’t think he gets enough credit for that.”

Daigle’s athletic prowess was evident at an early age.

“When he was very young, you could tell he was good,” said City Club pro Ashley Rhoney, a former UL All-American and Classic semifinalist as a freshman. “He wasn’t ready for me, so he worked with one of my assistants.

“Then, my first day working with him, you could tell he wasn’t ordinary. He was having a problem with his backhand. I told him what to do, and he got it in five minutes. Chanda (Rubin) was like that. Those are so rare.

“His first national tournament, with no experience, he went three sets with a guy who was No. 1 or 2 in the nation. Probably could have won.”

That helped set the stage for an outstanding Juniors career.

Rhoney also praised Daigle’s ability to “grind through” injuries, such as a stress fracture in his back as well as a wrist injury midway through last year’s 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 win in the Classic finals over USC’s Nick Crystal.

Valuable experience

Daigle is joined in this year’s Classic by LSU teammates Justin Butsch (15-7), an All-SEC and Top 50 player last spring, as well as freshmen Julien Saborio of Costa Rica (Davis Cup experience) and Rafael Wagner of Brazil (“big game”).

“The Classic is so early, but it gives the players a chance to start to focus again,” Brown said. “Every tournament has the possibility to give you confidence — especially one on the level of play the Classic has.

“It helps the younger players see the level you want to see, to see what that highest level is. It’s hot, coming from almost anywhere else in the world, so it’s a real test of your strength, endurance and conditioning.”

Brown, who counts three engineering majors on his roster, is eager to see how the talent develops

 

“It’s a real talented team, with the chance to add another player in January,” Brown said. “When I see the attitudes the guys have, it’s all very positive.”

Topping that list is Daigle, who came back to his home state and has flourished for the Tigers.

CLASSIC CLIPPINGS: Daigle is the No. 2 seed this year behind Kentucky’s William Bushamuka. … Teams arrived Wednesday for the Classic. … Admission is free, although the grandstand is reserved for VIP and sponsor seating on Sunday. … Some 400-600 kids are expected for Friday’s Chanda Rubin Grass Roots introduction to the game, held in connection with the Classic. … Sunday’s finals will be televised by ESPN3 and Cox Sports.

Cajun Classic Visitors

Below are visiting teams for the John Breaux Cajun Tennis Classic from Thursday to Sunday at UL’s Culotta Tennis Center. Team rankings, records are from the spring season.

No. 35 LSU (15-14)

Coach: Jeff Brown

Key Returnees: Classic defending champion Jordan Daigle (14-16); Justin Butsch (15-7); Gabor Csonka (11-9).

No. 27 Ole Miss (16-11)

Coach: Toby Hansson

Key Returnees: Gustav Hansson (17-6), NCAA round of 16, All-American; Stefan Lindmark (14-10); Zvonimir Babic (10-4).

No. 23 Kentucky (19-10)

Coach: Cedric Kauffmann

Key Returnees: William Bushamuka (16-9), 2nd round NCAA; Rvotaro Matsumura (18-8), SEC co-Freshman of Year.

No. 16 Texas (19-12)

Coach: Michael Center

Key Returnees: George Goldoff (11-11); Gene Riedmann (18-7); Adrian Ortiz (14-7).

No. 13 Oklahoma State (20-8)

Coach: Jay Udwadia

Key Returnees: Julian Cash-Arjun Kadhe, All-America doubles; Lucas Gerch; Nathan Roper.

No. 12 Southern California (17-7)

Coach: Peter Smith, multiple national titles

Key Returnees: Steve Johnson-Jack Sock, Olympic bronze medal, doubles.

No. 11 Texas Tech (28-6)

Coach: Brett Masi, Big 12 Coach of Year

Key Returnees: Felipe Soares, No. 19 Oracle ITA; Hugo Dojas, No. 94; Alex Sandegeya-Bjorn Thomson, No. 65 doubles.

Athletic Network Footnote by Ed Dugas:

Click here for photo gallery of Thursday, Day #1.