PLANTATION, Fla. (UCFKnights.com)--The UCF men's tennis team sent seven players to the qualifying rounds of the USA F3 Future tournament in Plantation, Fla., over the weekend.
Korey Lovett started off the tournament with a 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-1 victory over senior teammate Mariano Porter. The junior defeated Gaston Murray, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the third round of qualifying. The Brevard, N.C., native fell 6-3, 6-3 to 12th-seeded Junior Alexander Ore.
Danny Kerznerman upset the 15th seed, Mau Resendiz, in the opening round, 6-2, 6-1. The junior followed that up with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Jason Simon. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native was defeated by Nicolas Mejia, 6-3, 6-1, in the third round of qualifying.
Harrison Richmond opened play at the tournament defeating junior teammate Nicolo De Fraia, 6-3, 6-1. The redshirt senior then fell to Chase Perez-Blanco, 6-4, 7-6(2), in the second round.
Senior Chris Barrus fell in three sets to the 14th-seeded Luka Pavlovic, 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (6), in the opening round. Freshman Enrique Paya dropped a three-set match to Alan Kohen, 1-6, 6-0, 6-2, in the initial qualifying round.
The Knights host their season opener against Texas Tech on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona at 5 p.m.