TAMPA, Florida - In the squad’s first dual match back in Tampa since a dramatic 4-3 triumph in 2023, the No. 22 UCF men’s tennis team weathered a testing effort from South Florida, taking the contest in a similar scoreline Monday afternoon at the Varsity Tennis Courts.
The Knights are off to their best start in program history, besting the squad’s 7-0 start a year ago in head coach Lloyd Bruce-Burgess’ first season with UCF.
Coming back to Orlando with the DUB ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/XaLNE7H9FB
— UCF Men's Tennis (@UCF_MTennis) February 3, 2025
Riding strong form in doubles, the Knights took care of business again with dominating displays on courts one and three. Igniting the squad’s upset over Arizona a week ago, the French tandem of Liam Branger and Paul Colin broke early to claim the early advantage, 6-2.
Following a defeat on two, it was the familiar faces of Mehdi Benchakroun and Santiago Giamichelle, who tallied their fifth-consecutive win on court three 6-2, to secure the match’s first point. The duo have dropped just 13 games across five doubles contests, with their prowess as the anchor constantly providing the Black and Gold with stability.
UCF found early success in singles, taking four of six first sets. The first two points would come via the affirmation doubles duo of Benchakroun and Giamichelle. Consistently making quick work of his opposition, the latter defeated the Bulls’ Ben Hudson, 6-3, 6-2. His teammate would move the Knights within one seconds later as the reigning two-time Big 12 Player of the Week dropped just two games en route to a 6-0, 6-2, triumph over Ettore Danesi.
The Bulls would respond with straight-set wins on courts one and six, as Colin and freshman Nicolas Oliveira couldn’t find their footing.
Looking for a quick response, the Black and Gold would have to wait until a pair of third sets to find the clincher. After splitting the opening two, 6-4, Yassine Dlimi and Elijah Cham each held serve in the third to push the contest to 4-4. Remarkably, the Moroccan would finally find the break at duece-point before handling business to claim the court, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Branger would eventually drop the match’s final bout on four against Gughi Verdese, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1.
The Knights will continue an in-state road trip next weekend as they face Miami and Florida Atlantic.
Singles Results
- Hugo Car (USF) def. Paul Colin (UCF) 6-1, 6-3
- Yassine Dlimi (UCF) def. Elijah Cham (USF) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
- Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Ettore Danesi (USF) 6-2, 6-0
- Gughi Verdese (USF) def. Liam Branger (UCF) 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-1
- Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) Ben Hudson (USF) 6-3, 6-2
- Stepan Mruzek (USF) def. Nicolas Oliveira (UCF) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles Results
- Liam Branger/Paul Colin (UCF) def. Elijah Cham/Stepan Mruzek (USF) 6-2
- Tom Pavlekovich-Smith/Hugo Car (USF) def. Yassine Dlimi/Emilio Sanchez (UCF) 6-4
- Mehdi Benchakroun/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Ettore Danesi/Ben Hudson (USF) 6-2