LAKE NONA, Fla. – Despite a tremendous start by the Florida men’s tennis team in doubles play to kickoff the match, No. 7 USC showcased strong efforts in singles to beat No. 15 Florida, 5-2, in the first match of the SEC/Pac-12 Challenge on Saturday afternoon at the USTA National Campus.
The Gators (4-2) jumped out the gates firing in the doubles point against the Trojans (5-0). In spite of going down a break in their first service game against No. 12 Stefan Dostanic/Bradley Frye, Will Grant/Axel Nefve converted a break to tie it at 2-2, held serve, and converted another break to go up 4-2. Grant/Nefve provided Florida their first doubles win and earned their second ranked-victory as a pair.
As No. 10 Tanapatt Nirundorn/Togan Tokac went back and forth with Peter Makk/Lodewijk Westrate at 5-5, No. 43 Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif clinched their third doubles point of the season by converting a break to go up 5-4 and held serve in the 6-4 triumph over Wojtek Marek/Samuel Rubell.
Transitioning into singles play, USC snatched the momentum. Florida fell in straight-sets on courts one, two and five, respectively, which allowed a 3-1 advantage to the Trojans.
No. 93 Braswell brought the Gators within one and gave life to the comeback attempt in a dominant straight-set win, 6-4, 6-2 over No. 65 Frye for his 20th victory of the season and second ranked-win in three days. The freshman improved to 5-0 in dual play and 6-3 against ranked opponents.
USC prevailed as Marek was able to fend-off No. 51 Nate Bonetto as the sophomore tried to fight back in the 6-4, 6-3 loss. Tokac tied up his match at one set apiece on court six, but Westrate pulled away in the 10-point tiebreaker to complete the match.
Florida will hope to bounce back in Sunday’s match against No. 16 Stanford for a 11 a.m. matchup to conclude the SEC/Pac-12 Challenge. No. 13 Georgia beat Stanford, 4-3, in the other SEC/Pac-12 match.
DOUBLES RESULTS
1. Will Grant/Axel Nefve (UF) def. No. 12 Stefan Dostanic/Bradley Frye (USC), 6-3
2. No. 10 Tanapatt Nirundorn/Togan Tokac (UF) vs. Peter Makk/Lodewijk Weststrate, 5-5 (unfinished)
3. No. 43 Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif (UF) def. Wojtek Marek/Samuel Rubell (USC), 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3
SINGLES RESULTS
1. No. 79 Stefan Dostanic (USC) def. Axel Nefve (UF), 6-2, 6-3
2. No. 38 Peter Makk (USC) def. Will Grant (UF), 6-2, 6-2
3. Wojtek Marek (USC) def. No. 51 Nate Bonetto (UF), 6-4, 6-3
4. No. 93 Jonah Braswell (UF) def. No. 65…
The Gators (4-2) jumped out the gates firing in the doubles point against the Trojans (5-0). In spite of going down a break in their first service game against No. 12 Stefan Dostanic/Bradley Frye, Will Grant/Axel Nefve converted a break to tie it at 2-2, held serve, and converted another break to go up 4-2. Grant/Nefve provided Florida their first doubles win and earned their second ranked-victory as a pair.
As No. 10 Tanapatt Nirundorn/Togan Tokac went back and forth with Peter Makk/Lodewijk Westrate at 5-5, No. 43 Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif clinched their third doubles point of the season by converting a break to go up 5-4 and held serve in the 6-4 triumph over Wojtek Marek/Samuel Rubell.
Transitioning into singles play, USC snatched the momentum. Florida fell in straight-sets on courts one, two and five, respectively, which allowed a 3-1 advantage to the Trojans.
No. 93 Braswell brought the Gators within one and gave life to the comeback attempt in a dominant straight-set win, 6-4, 6-2 over No. 65 Frye for his 20th victory of the season and second ranked-win in three days. The freshman improved to 5-0 in dual play and 6-3 against ranked opponents.
USC prevailed as Marek was able to fend-off No. 51 Nate Bonetto as the sophomore tried to fight back in the 6-4, 6-3 loss. Tokac tied up his match at one set apiece on court six, but Westrate pulled away in the 10-point tiebreaker to complete the match.
Florida will hope to bounce back in Sunday’s match against No. 16 Stanford for a 11 a.m. matchup to conclude the SEC/Pac-12 Challenge. No. 13 Georgia beat Stanford, 4-3, in the other SEC/Pac-12 match.
DOUBLES RESULTS
1. Will Grant/Axel Nefve (UF) def. No. 12 Stefan Dostanic/Bradley Frye (USC), 6-3
2. No. 10 Tanapatt Nirundorn/Togan Tokac (UF) vs. Peter Makk/Lodewijk Weststrate, 5-5 (unfinished)
3. No. 43 Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif (UF) def. Wojtek Marek/Samuel Rubell (USC), 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3
SINGLES RESULTS
1. No. 79 Stefan Dostanic (USC) def. Axel Nefve (UF), 6-2, 6-3
2. No. 38 Peter Makk (USC) def. Will Grant (UF), 6-2, 6-2
3. Wojtek Marek (USC) def. No. 51 Nate Bonetto (UF), 6-4, 6-3
4. No. 93 Jonah Braswell (UF) def. No. 65…
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