Florida saw young stars shine at the top of the lineup, but missed key opportunities to put opponents away in their fourth-straight SEC road loss.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gators Men’s Tennis fell 5-2 to Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Sunday. The loss marked the fourth straight in SEC play for Florida, and dropped the No. 25 Gators’ conference record to 2-4. The Gators now hold an 8-8 overall record in the dual season.
How it Happened
Florida started the afternoon contest without much momentum, dropping behind early on all three doubles courts. After the tough start and a brief stop in the action due to inclement weather, play resumed indoors. The Gators looked stronger in the second half of doubles play, but ultimately lost courts one and two to give Alabama the 1-0 lead.
Aidan Kim returned to form on court two with a win over No. 69 Enzo Aguiard, securing Florida’s first point in the dual. Kim looked dominant in the straight-sets performance, swiping a quick 6-3 set to open play, and stifling a final effort from Aguiard to seal a 7-6 (9-7) tiebreaker in the second set. Kim’s win kept Florida in the mix by cutting Alabama’s lead to one point.
Jeremy Jin continued to impress against older opponents, this time bringing down No. 46 Filip Planinsek. Jin dropped the first set, 6-3, before quickly recovering to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the second. He held on to tie the match at a set apiece with his 6-4 win of set two. Jin continued to show his elite stamina in SEC play, as he outlasted his opponent in a 7-6 (8-6) third set to seal finish the day action, and pick up a second point for Florida.
Despite Florida’s young stars shining atop the lineup, the Gators missed opportunities to put away opponents on lower courts. Freshman Henry Jefferson started court six with a very strong 6-3 first set and led early in the second, but couldn’t maintain his momentum and lost the second set in a 7-6 (7-4) tiebreaker. He fell in his third set, 6-2. Sophomore Tanapatt Nirundorn battled to take his first set, but just like Jefferson, couldn’t keep his pace and dropped the next two sets for an Alabama point.
Up Next
Florida returns to Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex to take on Ole Miss on Friday, March 22. The match will be the first home SEC match for Florida since they faced LSU at home on March 3rd.
Results
Singles competition
1. Jeremy Jin (UF) def. Filip Planinsek (UA) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
2. Aidan Kim (UF) def. Enzo Aguiard (UA) 6-3, 7-6 (9-7)
3. Andrii Zimnokh (UA) def. Nate Bonetto (UF) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) def. Tanapatt Nirundorn (UF) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
5. Roan Jones (UA) def. Kevin Edengren (UF) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
6. Matic Dimic (UA) def. Henry Jefferson (UF) 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Filip Planinsek/Andrii Zimnokh (UA) def. Nate Bonetto/Aidan Kim (UF) 6-3
2. Enzo Aguiard/Zach Foster (UA) def. Jeremy Jin/Henry Jefferson (UF) 6-3
3. Matic Dimic/Roan Jones (UA) vs. Tanapatt Nirundorn/Kevin Edengren (UF) 4-3, unfinished
