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Men's Tennis Drops Inaugural Big 12 Match at No. 8 Texas

by Alex Clough

AUSTIN – Against one of the conference's most historic programs, the UCF men’s tennis opened Big 12 play with a contested bout at No. 8 Texas, keeping it close with the Longhorns throughout before eventually falling, 4-0. Moving to 14-2 on the season, the Knights’ inaugural match in one of the nation’s top conferences saw multiple athletes go toe-to-toe with the nation’s best.

Texas are a great team and showed why they have been so good this year. We have to do a better job as a coaching staff to help the guys improve in some areas. Our doubles have significantly improved which is very positive based on where we were early in the season.

Head coach Lloyd Bruce-Burgess

A competitive doubles point would go the way of Texas after back-and-forth matches throughout. The Longhorns’ tandem of Pierre-Yves Bailly and Eshan Talluri defeated Liam Branger and Lleyton Cronje on court two to draw the early advantage, 6-2. Though courts one and three saw tight bouts with Santiago Giamichelle and Francisco Llanes serving up 5-4 after a strong start.

Texas would force court three to go unfinished however after breaking serve on court one, with No. 53 Elliot Spizzirri and Siem Woldeab pulling away from Yassine Dlimi and Paul Colin, 6-4.

With a similar high-intensity display to begin singles, the Knights tested the Longhorns in the first set. Llanes would jump out to an early advantage over No. 2 Braswell on court two as the Uruguayan continued his strong form against the Longhorn.

Leading UCF, Dlimi challenged No. 1 Spizzirri, as the duo went back and forth before the Spizzirri eventually took set one. In the second, the 2023 ITA National Player of the Year would pull away to take the match, 6-4, 6-0.

Texas would then take the bout with victories on courts three and six. Cronje was bested by Bailly in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, along with Mehdi Benchakorun who was anchoring the Knights, who fell to Cleeve Harper, 6-2, 6-3.

Llanes, up 3-2 in the second, would see his contest with Braswell go unfinished. On court four, Branger was on the verge of forcing a third set with Woldeab, though the bout went unfinished at 3-6, 5-3. Giamichelle had a back-and-forth first set with No. 67 Braswell, eventually falling 7-5 before the second set stood at 1-0 in the Frenchmen’s favor when the Longhorns clinched.

Toto played fantastic being a set and a break up on one of the best players in college, he has come a long way and continues to show a lot of maturity on the court.

Bruce-Burgess

UCF will strive to get back to winning ways as it heads north to Waco for an 11 a.m. meeting with Baylor. The Knights have yet to drop consecutive matches this season as tonight’s defeat ends the second of two seven-match winning streaks in 2024.

Singles Results

  1. No. 1 Eliot Spizzirri (UT) def. Yassine Dlimi (UCF) 6-4, 6-0
  2. Francisco Llanes (UCF) vs. No. 2 Micah Braswell (UT) 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
  3. Pierre-Yves Bailly (UT) def. Lleyton Cronje (UCF) 6-2, 6-1
  4. Siem Woldeab (UT) vs. Liam Branger (UCF) 6-2, 3-5, unfinished
  5. No. 67 Jonah Braswell vs. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) 7-5, 0-1, unfinished
  6. Cleeve Harper (UT) def. Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles Results

  1. Eliot Spizzirri/Siem Woldeab (UT) def. Yassine Dlimi/Paul Colin (UCF) 6-4
  2. Pierre-Yves Bailly/Eshan Talluri (UT) def. Liam Branger/Lleyton Cronge (UCF) 6-2
  3. Francisco Llanes/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) vs. Micah Braswell/Cleeve Harper (UT) 5-4, unfinished

Order of Finish

  • Singles: 1,3,6
  • Doubles: 2,1