AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 24 Florida men’s tennis team fell to No. 4 Georgia, 4-0, in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn.
Florida (14-13, 5-7 SEC) started the match on the wrong foot in doubles and dropped the initial point to the No. 1 seed Georgia (19-5, 12-0 SEC). The Bulldogs picked up victories on court one and three, respectively, while the Gators led 4-3 at the two position on serve.
Requiring four singles victories to comeback, Georgia didn’t waver and began singles competition earning four first sets. No. 95 Will Grant on court two outlasted No. 15 Philip Henning in a back-and-forth first set, coming back from down 5-4 in the breaker, and exited the breaker on top 7-6 (8). No. 86 Jonah Braswell dominated the opening frame versus No. 119 Trent Bryde, converting a break for the 4-2 lead and won the first set 6-3.
Despite the Gators continuing to fight back with a first deficit, Georgia held their ground and secured victories on court six, five and one, respectively, to clinch the victory. In the clinching win at the top singles position, No. 37 Axel Nefve gave No. 4 Ethan Quinn all the Bulldog could handle, but Quinn’s one break of serve was enough in both sets and staved off the battling Nefve, 6-4, 6-4.
Florida will now have just under two weeks to prepare for the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, scheduled to begin on May 5.
DOUBLES RESULTS
1. No. 7 Trent Bryde/Ethan Quinn (UGA) def. No. 4 Will Grant/Axel Nefve (UF), 6-2
2. Nate Bonetto/Tanapatt Nirundorn (UF) vs Teodor Giusca/Philip Henning (UGA), 4-3, unfinished
3. Blake Croyder/Britton Johnston (UGA) def. Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif (UF), 6-1
Order of Finish: 1, 3
SINGLES RESULTS
1. No. 4 Ethan Quinn (UGA) def. No. 37 Axel Nefve (UF), 6-4, 6-4
2. No. 95 Will Grant (UF) vs No. 15 Philip Henning (UGA), 7-6 (8), 2-0
3. No. 86 Jonah Braswell (UF) vs No. 119 Trent Bryde (UGA), 6-3, 2-3
4. Lukas Greif (UF) vs No. 101 Blake Croyder (UGA), 6-7 (4), 1-3
5. Miguel Perez Pena (UGA) def. Nate Bonetto (UF), 6-2, 6-3
6. Teodor Giusca (UGA) def. Tanapatt Nirundorn (UF), 6-2, 6-3
Order of Finish: 6, 5, 1