Llanes Highlights Impressive Bedford Cup Performance to Open Fall Schedule

ORLANDO, Fla. – An All-Knights singles final matchup headlined the UCF men’s tennis team’s opening tournament of the fall season, competing among five other top programs from Florida in the Bedford Cup. Hosted at UCF’s home facility, the USTA National Campus, it marked the first set of matches with Lloyd Bruce-Burgess at the helm following his appointment this summer.

With five of the seven Knights in action embarking on their sophomore campaigns, the squad remains infused with a mix of youthful and veteran experience. Both Francisco “Toto” Llanes and Paul Colin stole the spotlight in the ‘Singles B’ draw, advancing to the final following multiple strong results. Llanes didn’t drop a set in his first two victories before defeating Florida Atlantic’s John Bernard, the No. 1 seed, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3). Preceding Colins 6-1, 6-2, triumph over fellow Knight Luca Hotze, the Frenchman defeated Florida’s Borys Zgola, 6-3, 6-1, in the quarterfinals. The Sunday spotlight saw Toto edge Colin in two sets, 6-4, 6-2, claiming his first title of the fall campaign.

Setting forth on his final collegiate season, Lleyton Cronje split his four singles matches to open the season. His wins included two straight-set victories over Stetson’s Ervin Haris Eminefendic, 6-4, 6-4, and FGCU’s Hugo Magnusson, 6-3, 6-0. With Pavel’s departure, UT-Arlington transfer Santiago Giamichelle joined Cronje in doubles as the pair went 1-1, defeating an FAU tandem in their first match together. In singles, Giamichelle bested FAU’s Juan Martin Jalif, 7-5, 6-1, before taking his second match of the weekend on Sunday against FGCU’s CJ Smith, 6-1, 6-1 to finish 2-1 in his Knights debut.

Mehdi Benchakroun, Luca Hotze and Emilio Sanchez all notched their first singles victories this season. Sanchez went 2-1, defeating FGCU’s Eric Oncins in a three-set thriller, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Full Results

UCF RESULTS

Singles

Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Juan Martin Jalif (FAU): 7-5, 6-1

Lleyton Cronje (UCF) def. Ervin Haris Eminefendic (Stetson): 6-4, 6-4

Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Brenno Narquez (UNF): 7-5, 6-2

Emilio Sanchez (UCF) def. Eric Oncins (FGCU): 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

Francisco Llanes (UCF) def. Tim Gennes (Stetson): 7-5, 6-4

Luca Hotze (UCF) def. Spencer Dorosheff (UNF): 6-1, 6-2

Paul Colin (UCF) def. Ninad Raut (FGCU): 6-2, 6-4

Francisco Llanes (UCF) def. Juan Jose Rodriguez (Stetson): 6-0, 6-4

Francisco Llanes (UCF) def. John Bernard (FAU): 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (3)

Luca Hotze (UCF) def. Sami Ozzor (Stetson): 7-5, 6-2

Paul Colin (UCF) def. Borys Zgola (UF): 6-3, 6-1

Paul Colin (UCF) def. Luca Hotze: 6-1, 6-2

Lleyton Cronje (UCF) def. Hugo Magnusson: 6-3, 6-0

JanMagnus Johnson (UCF) def. Lleyton Cronje: 4-6, 7-6, 6-7

JanMagnus Johnson def. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF): --

Jiri Jenicek (FAU) def. Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF): 2-5, ret.

John Bernard (FAU) def. Emilio Sanchez (UCF): 1-6, 7-6, 3-6

Jiri Jenicek (FAU) def. Lleyton Cronje: 2-6, 3-6

Emilio Sanchez (UCF) def. Borys Zgola (UF): 6-4, 4-6, 10-5

Toto Llanes (UCF) def. Paul Colin (UCF): 6-4, 6-2

John Bernard (FAU) def. Luca Hotze (UCF): 4-6, 4-6

Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. CJ Smith (FGCU): 6-1, 6-1

Doubles

Lleyton Cronje/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Myslevic/Havilcek (FAU): 7-6

Nirundorn/Zgloa (Florida) def. Lleyton Cronje/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF): 6-7

Boss/Michalowski (FGCU) def. Mehdi Benchakroun/Francisco Llanes (UCF): 6-3

Mehdi Benchakroun/Francisco Llanes (UCF) def. Healey/Dorosheff (UNF): 6-1

Luca Hotze/Emilio Sanchez (UCF) def. Scott/Marquez (UNF): 7-6

Bernard/Graca (FAU) def. Luca Hotze/Emilio Sanchez (UCF): 2-6