March 7, 2010
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ATLANTA (UCFAthletics.com) - Thanks to a singles win from sophomore Claudio Romano (Valencia, Venezuela), the UCF men's tennis team picked up a 4-3 victory over Winthrop Sunday. Romano fought through an injury to claim the match-clinching win at No. 4.
Facing Nadav Ruppin, Romano held on for a 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3 triumph. His victory was the fourth singles win for the Knights (6-3), who started off the contest down a point after Winthrop took two of three doubles contests.
"I can't say enough about Claudio's heart today," UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. "With the match on the line, he elevated his play to clinch the match."
At the top spot, UCF senior Marc Rocafort (Barcelona, Spain) defeated Sergey Belov (7-5, 2-6, 6-4). Facing Diego Toledo at No. 2, senior Brock Sakey (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) eased to a 6-3, 6-2 win. The Knights' other singles victory came at No. 4, where junior Blaze Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla.) handled Dejon Bivens, 6-3, 6-2.
The match was the second in two days in two different states for the Knights, who played at No. 45 Clemson in South Carolina Saturday. Today's contest was played in Atlanta because the Eagles faced host Georgia State on Saturday.
Winthrop claimed victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. UCF's lone win came at No. 3. Sakey and Romano topped Bivens and Liran Levy, 8-3.
UCF will return to action on March 15, hosting Princeton at 2 p.m.
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UCF 4, Winthrop 3
Doubles
1. Belov/Daudt (WIN) def. Rocafort/Schwartz (UCF) 9-8 (7)
2. Kubi/Ruppin (WIN) def. Delinks/Beigart (UCF) 9-8 (7)
3. Sakey/Romano (UCF) def. Bivens/Levy (WIN) 8-3
Singles
1. Marc Rocafort (UCF) def. Sergey Belov (WIN) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
2. Brock Sakey (UCF) def. Diego Toledo (WIN) 6-3, 6-2
3. Claudio Romano (UCF) def. Nadav Ruppin (WIN) 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3
4. Blaze Schwartz (UCF) def. Dejon Bivens (WIN) 6-3, 6-2
5. Liran Levy (WIN) def. Johan Beigart (UCF) 6-4, 6-2
6. Guy Kubi (WIN) def. Eugene Dolgovykh (UCF) 6-1, 7-6 (4)