AUSTIN, Texas – No. 9 Florida (3-0) rebounded from a dropped doubles point to earn a win over Arizona (2-1), 4-2, in the opening round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend on Friday.
With that win, the Gators advance to the championship game on Saturday against Texas or Liberty and will play for a chance to claim a spot in the 2021 ITA National Team Indoor Championship on Feb. 12-14 in Champaign, Illinois at the Atkins Tennis Center.
The Wildcats kicked proceedings off by earning the doubles point, as only the duo of
Sam Riffice and
Duarte Vale could put together a victory for UF in No. 1 doubles while UA won in No. 2 and No. 3 doubles.
Riffice and
Blaise Bicknell won in No. 2 and No. 6 singles in two sets, while
Andy Andrade dropped his match in No. 3 singles.
Ben Shelton mounted a strong comeback in No. 5 singles after dropping the first set. After dropping his opening set, 4-5, the freshman won the final two sets, 6-3, 6-2 to secure his victory.
It was all eyes on courts No. 1 with Vale and No. 4 with
Johannes Ingildsen with Florida only needing one win in the final two matches, up 3-2.
Ingildsen would go on to clinch the win for the Gators. After winning, his first set, the redshirt-senior dropped his final set but held strong in the final set, winning it, 6-3.
UF is now scheduled to play at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday against either Texas or Liberty.
Singles Results: 2, 6, 3, 5, 4
1.
#12 Duarte Vale (UF) vs. #50 Jonas Ziverts (ARIZ) 4-6, 7-5, 4-3,
*unfinished*
2.
#8 Sam Riffice (UF) def. Alejandro Reguant (ARIZ) 6-3, 6-2
3. #105 Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) def.
#85 Andy Andrade (UF) 6-3, 6-2
4.
Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. #54 Filip Malbasic (ARIZ) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
5.
Ben Shelton (UF) def. Carlos Hassey (ARIZ) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
6.
#68 Blaise Bicknell (UF) def. Nick Lagaev (ARIZ) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles Results: 2, 1, 3
1.
#45 Duarte Vale/Sam Riffice (UF) def. Jett Middleton/Jonas Ziverts (ARIZ) 6-4
2. Carlos Hassey/Alejandro Reguant (ARIZ) def.
Johannes Ingildsen/Ben Shelton (UF) 6-3
3. Filip Malbasic/Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) def.
Andy Andrade/Will Grant (UF) 6-4
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