The Gators move to 2-0 in conference action after besting No.19 Alabama
GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The Florida men’s tennis team defeated Alabama 4-3 at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex on Monday evening. The win marked the second conference win of the season. Despite not clinching the doubles point, UF showcased their strength in singles taking courts two, three, four, and six.
In doubles action, the point was determined in a thrilling fashion. On court one Adhithya Ganesan<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/adhithya-ganesan/16660> and Tanapatt Nirundorn<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/tanapatt-nirundorn/16114> faced No. 41 Matic Kriznik and Filip Planinsek. The Gator duo was unable to hold on against the ranked pair, falling 6-1.
Kevin Edengren<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/kevin-edengren/16662> and JanMagnus Johnson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/janmagnus-johnson/17174> saw Roan Jones and Matias Ponce De Leon on court three. The pair secured the match 6-4 leaving the point decision up to court two.
Henry Jefferson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/henry-jefferson/16661> and Jeremy Jin<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/jeremy-jin/16118> battled Damien Nezar and Andrii Zimnokh in the final doubles match of the day. The duo’s found themselves tied up at 6-6 and entered a tiebreak. UF controlled the tiebreak early, but ultimately dropped the match 7-6.
On the singles side, Johnson got UF on the board first, securing a straight set 7-5, 7-5 win over Ponce De Leon on court three. The victory leveled the score at 1-1.
No. 61 Jin was the next Gator to finish. Jin faced No. 23 Planinsek on court one. The first set went into a tiebreaker, with Planinsek taking it 7-6. Despite the attempt to regain momentum, Jin dropped the second set 7-5 putting Alabama in front 2-1.
Ganesan went into a third set on court two as he battled No. 59 Jones. The Gator vet had a commanding performance in the first set, winning 6-3. Jones responded in the second, taking a 7-5 victory to force a third. The final set was full of action, but Ganesan remained composed cruising to a 6-4 win and tie the game 2-2.
Nirundorn saw a tough opponent in Kriznik on court five. Nirundorn was unable to secure the first set win, dropping the set 6-4. The Crimson Tide took the lead at 3-2.
Freshman Niels Villard<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/niels-villard/17561> cruised to 6-1 victory in set one over Nezar. Villard kept his momentum despite Nezar’s efforts to comeback. Villard took the second set 6-3 to tie the match 3-3.
Jefferson manned court four as he faced Zimnokh. Jefferson took control of the match early, taking the first set 6-4. The second set came down to a tiebreak, after neither could pull away. Henry led for the beginning of the tiebreak, but Zimnokh took the set 7-6. With the win within reach, Jefferson pushed himself to his limits and secured the fourth point for Florida after taking the final set 6-4.
Singles competition
1. #23 Filip Planinsek (UA) def. #61 Jeremy Jin<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/jeremy-jin/16118> (UF) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
2. Adhithya Ganesan<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/adhithya-ganesan/16660> (UF) def. #59 Roan Jones (UA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
3. JanMagnus Johnson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/janmagnus-johnson/17174> (UF) def. Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) 7-5, 7-5
4. Henry Jefferson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/henry-jefferson/16661> (UF) def. Andrii Zimnokh (UA) 6-4, 6-7, 6-4
5. Matic Kriznik (UA) def. Tanapatt Nirundorn<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/tanapatt-nirundorn/16114> (UF) 6-4, 6-2
6. Niels Villard<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/niels-villard/17561> (UF) def. Damien Nezar (UA) 6-1, 6-3
Order of finish: 3,1,2,5,6,4
Doubles competition
1. #41 Matic Kriznik/Filip Planinsek (UA) def. Tanapatt Nirundorn<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/tanapatt-nirundorn/16114>/Adhithya Ganesan<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/adhithya-ganesan/16660> (UF) 6-1
2. Damien Nezar/Andrii Zimnokh (UA) def. Henry Jefferson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/henry-jefferson/16661>/Jeremy Jin<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/jeremy-jin/16118> (UF) 7-6 (8-6)
3. Kevin Edengren<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/kevin-edengren/16662>/JanMagnus Johnson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/janmagnus-johnson/17174> (UF) def. Roan Jones/Matias Ponce De Leon (UA) 6-4
Order of finish: 1,3,2
NEXT UP:
The Gators hosts the Kentucky Wildcats at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex. The match is slated for a 5 p.m. start on Friday, February 28.
ITA RANKINGS
One Gator is ranked in singles competition: Jeremy Jin<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/jeremy-jin/16118> at No. 61 Doubles pair Tanapatt Nirundorn<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/tanapatt-nirundorn/16114> and Henry Jefferson<https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-tennis/roster/henry-jefferson/16661> also earned an ITA ranking at No. 14.
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