Men's Tennis Sweeps South Florida, Improves to 9-1Men's Tennis Sweeps South Florida, Improves to 9-1

Men's Tennis Sweeps South Florida, Improves to 9-1

by Alex Clough

ORLANDO – In the first meeting between the two teams in non-conference after nearly a decade, the UCF Men’s tennis continued its dominant form over South Florida, defeating the Bulls, 4-0. The Knights (9-1) were clinical in singles play following a dramatic doubles point, taking the back three swiftly.

The over-hour-long doubles point saw back-and-forth battles on all three courts, headlined by the decider on two. Santiago Giamichelle and Francisco Llanes broke serve early to take control of their bout with South Florida’s Ben Hudson and Oliveira Bruno, securing their third win in five, 6-2.

Seconds later though the 40th-ranked Bulls duo of Erik Grevelius and Alvin Tudorica got the better of Yassine Dlimi and Mehdi Benchakroun, 6-3, following multiple broken serves from each side.

With attention towards court two, Lleyton Cronje and Liam Branger had the chance to take the match, serving while up 5-4. South Florida’s Thomas Pavlekovich-Smith and Augustin Cueller were able to fend off the match for the time being as the contest eventually went to a tiebreak. Multiple match points ensued before Cronje and Branger were finally able to finish them off, with the latter’s service ace clinching the bout, 7-6 (8-6).

The momentum carried into singles as the Knights set one on all six courts, firmly taking control of the contest. Branger was the first to get on the board as he got back into the win column with a dominating, 6-2, 6-3, win over Pavlekovich-Smith.

It wouldn’t be long until the bout was settled as the back three courts followed suit. On six, Benchakroun notched his seventh win of the campaign with a straight-set, 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Agustin Cuellar.

Giamichelle’s team-leading eighth win of the season clinched the contest on court four as he defeated Tom Pisane, 6-4, 6-2.

With 10 matches in the books, UCF has secured nine wins in the span for just the third time in program history. Head coach Lloyd-Bruce Burgess and his squad are off to their best start since 1989 and will look to win 10 of their first 11 for just the second time (1980) on Monday as the Knights welcome Penn for a 10 a.m. first serve at the USTA National Campus.

Singles Competition

  1. Yassine Dlimi (UCF) vs. #36 Alvin Tudorica (USF) 7-5, 5-6, unfinished
  2. Lleyton Cronje (UCF) vs. Erik Grebelius (USF) 6-1, 4-6, 2-2, unfinished
  3. Francisco Llanes (UCF) vs. Bruno Oliveira (USF) 7-6 (8-6), 1-1, unfinished
  4. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Tom Pisane (USF) 6-4, 6-2
  5. Liam Branger (UCF) def. Thomas Pavlekovich-Smith (USF) 6-2, 6-3
  6. Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Agustin Cuellar (USF) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles Competition

  1. #40 Alvin Tudorica/Erik Grevelius (USF) def. Yassine Dlimi/Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) 6-3
  2. Lleyton Cronje/Liam Branger (UCF) def. Thomas Pavlekovich-Smith/Agustin Cuellar (USF) 7-6 (8-6)
  3. Santiago Giamichelle/Francisco Llanes (UCF) def. Ben Hudson/Bruno Oliveira (USF) 6-2

Order of Finish

  • Singles: 5,6,4
  • Doubles: 3,1,2