Despite a promising start, the Gators drop a dual match to Auburn for the first time in nearly ten years.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gators Men’s Tennis dropped the first match of their second SEC road weekend, falling 4-1 to the No. 35 Auburn Tigers. The loss brings the No. 25 Gators’ record in dual play to 8-7, and 2-3 in conference play.
The match marked the first loss in the last 11 contests with the Tigers. Before Friday’s loss, the last time the Gators fell to the Tigers was on March 21st, 2014 in Gainesville. Florida has won 50 of the 66 matchups in the all-time series between the two programs.
How it Happened
Florida started the afternoon with a strong performance in doubles, headlined by a point-sealing 7-5 winning set on court three by new Gators twosome Tanapatt Nirundorn/Kevin Edengren. Jeremy Jin/Henry Jefferson’s prior 6-4 win on court two made for a doubles point win and a 1-0 advantage for Florida in the dual.
The Gators’ momentum swiftly faded, as they went on to lose five of six first sets in singles play. Jefferson was the lone Gator to reach the second set with a lead, after a 7-6 (7-3) battle. The freshman would play to a 4-4 second set before the match ended due to Auburn’s winning fourth point.
After dropping his first set on court one, Jeremy Jin battled his way to a 7-5 win of the second set. He rode that momentum to a 2-0 lead in the third set before the day’s action concluded.
Courts two, three, and four saw dominant performances by the Tigers, with all decided swiftly in straight sets. Court five saw what was probably the closest of the finished courts, with Kevin Edengren falling 6-4, 7-5 to Auburn’s Nicholas Heng on court five. Edengren’s loss marked the fourth and final point for Auburn.
Up Next
Florida now heads to Tuscaloosa to face the No. 24 Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday. Alabama currently holds a 1-3 record in conference play. The Crimson Tide are coming off of a tough 4-3 loss to South Carolina. The Gators are 45-21 against Alabama all-time, with Alabama taking the most recent match 4-3 on March 12th, 2023 in Gainesville. Florida last defeated Alabama 5-2 on April 8th, 2022 in Tuscaloosa.
Results
Singles competition
1. #40 Tyler Stice (AUB) vs. #97 Jeremy Jin (UF) 6-2, 5-7, 0-2, unfinished
2. #73 Finn Murgett (AUB) def. Aidan Kim (UF) 6-2, 6-3
3. Alejandro Moreno (AUB) def. Nate Bonetto (UF) 6-2, 6-4
4. Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. #99 Tanapatt Nirundorn (UF) 6-3, 6-1
5. Nicholas Heng (AUB) def. Kevin Edengren (UF) 6-4, 7-5
6. Will Nolan (AUB) vs. Henry Jefferson (UF) 6-7 (3-7), 4-4, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Raul Dobai/Finn Murgett (AUB) def. Nate Bonetto/Aidan Kim (UF) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Jeremy Jin/Henry Jefferson (UF) def. Billy Blaydes/Alejandro Moreno (AUB) 6-4
3. Kevin Edengren/Tanapatt Nirundorn (UF) def. Tyler Stice/Will Nolan (AUB) 7-5
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