UF WTN: Florida’s On-Court Composure Leads to Top-25 Win Over FIU

No. 19 Gators secure a 4-2 win over No. 25 Florida International. The Saturday home victory puts UF at 2-0 heading into the ITA Kickoff Championship match.

GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The Gators returned to Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex for a Saturday matchup against No. 25 Florida International. UF defeated the Panthers 4-2 and will advance to the ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship match on Sunday.

Florida’s success started in doubles with an efficient win on court three. Emily De Oliveira<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/emily-de-oliveira/16979> and Nikola Daubnerova<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/nikola-daubnerova/16984> defeated Aleksandra Simeva and Petja Drame 6-1 in a dominating performance. Veteran duo, Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> and Bente Spee<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/bente-spee/16983> followed on court one with a 6-3 victory, taking down FIU’s Ekaterina Khairutdinova and securing the Gators first team point of the day. Freshmen Talia Neilson-Gatenby<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/talia-neilson-gatenby/17074> and Noemie Oliveras were left knotted at against Oyinlomo Quadre and Anja Draskovic at 4-4 when the doubles point was decided.

Singles proved to be a larger challenge for Florida as De Oliveira immediately fell on court one to No. 80 Ekaterina Khairutdinova 6-2, 6-0. The loss evened the score to 1-1 before Daubnerova closed in on her second win of the day, defeating Katerina Mandelikova 6-1, 6-2. Florida regained the lead once more at 2-1, but FIU continued to pressure the Gators on the remaining courts.

Florida’s Neilson-Gatenby was next to finish, falling 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 to Valery Gynina on court three. Despite the loss, Neilson-Gatenby fought hard to the final point, showing her immense talent as a freshman.

Oliveras was the fourth Gator to close out with a 6-2, 7-6 win over Petja Drame. Oliveras set the tone early with a 6-2 first set victory before a back-and-forth battle in the second set. Oliveras held the lead several times in her match, but Drame remained in the fight for the entirety of the second set, putting pressure on the freshman up until she tallied the final point of the tiebreaker.

The Gators held a 3-2 lead and needed to claim one more point to post the win over FIU. Dudeney and Spee were the final courts playing and both were faced with three set thrillers. It was Dudeney who ultimately clinched for the Gators after being down a set and forcing a second set tiebreaker to stay alive. FIU had several match points but Dudeney remained patient and never flinched, pushing FIU’s Quadre to commit several unforced errors. Dudeney outlasted Quadre in the tiebreak to win the second set 7-6 (10-8). After taking the tiebreaker, all the power shifted to Dudeney as she steamrolled in the final set to win the match 2-6, 7-6, 6-0.

Spee’s match against Anja Draskovic was left unfinished on court five. Spee took the first set 6-2, fell 6-4 in the second, and was down 4-3 in the third set before fellow senior, Dudeney claimed the match for Florida.

HEAD COACH PER NILSSON SAYS:
UF Head Coach Per Nilsson<https://admin.floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/coaches/per-nilsson/2018> on Florida’s mental toughness and ability to battle:
“The team’s fight didn’t surprise me today—we are working on our toughness and are starting to learn what it’s supposed to look and feel like. We are two weeks in and things are coming together. I’m excited to see where this team is in two months from now.”

FINAL RESULTS:
Final Singles Results:
1. #80 E. Khairutdinova (FIU) def. Emily de Oliveira (UF) 6-2, 6-0
2. Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> (UF) def. #52 Oyinlomo Quadre (FIU) 2-6, 7-6, 6-0
3. Valery Gynina (FIU) def. Talia NeilsonGatenby (UF) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Nikola Daubnerova<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/nikola-daubnerova/16984> (UF) def. Katerina Mandelikova (FIU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Anja Draskovic (FIU) vs. Bente Spee<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/bente-spee/16983> (UF) no result
6. Noemie Oliveras (UF) def. Petja Drame (FIU) 6-2, 7-6

Final Doubles Results:
1. Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980>/Bente Spee<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/bente-spee/16983> (UF) def. E. Khairutdinova/Valery Gynina (FIU) 6-3
2. Noémie Oliveras/Talia Neilson-Gatenby<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/talia-neilson-gatenby/17074> (UF) vs. Oyinlomo Quadre/Anja Draskovic (FIU) 4-4 (unfinish)
3. Emily de Oliveira/Nikola Daubnerova<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/nikola-daubnerova/16984> (UF) def. Aleksandra Simeva/Petja Drame (FIU) 6-1

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,4,3,6,2)

UP NEXT:
The Gators will compete again on Sunday Jan. 26 at 2 p.m., and play the winner of LSU vs. Miami. Sunday’s match is for the ITA Kickoff Weekend title and the winning team will automatically advance to ITA National Indoors.

ITA KICKOFF WEEKEND COVERAGE:
Sunday is free to the general public and live coverage can be found at the following links.

* Site: Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex<https://floridagators.com/sports/2020/4/4/alfred-a-ring-tennis-complex.aspx>
* Watch<https://floridagators.com/sports/2018/3/9/tennis-women-live-video-stats.aspx>
* Live stats<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=580609>
* ITA Kickoff Weekend Event Page<https://wearecollegetennis.com/kickoff-weekend/>

FLORIDA IN THE RANKS:
The Gators currently sit at No. 19 in the ITA rankings and No. 4 in the SEC preseason coaches’ poll. UF is also represented in the doubles category with Alicia Dudeney<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/alicia-dudeney/16980> and Rachel Gailis<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-tennis/roster/rachel-gailis/16981> sitting at No. 3.

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Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,4,3,6,2)

UP NEXT:
The Gators will compete again on Sunday Jan. 26 and take on No. 22 LSU at 2 p.m. Sunday’s match is for the TA Kickoff title and the winning team will automatically advance to ITA National Indoors.

ITA KICKOFF WEEKEND COVERAGE:
Sunday is free to the general public and live coverage can be found at the following links.