Men's Tennis Secures First Big 12 Win in Dominant Sweep at Baylor, 4-0Men's Tennis Secures First Big 12 Win in Dominant Sweep at Baylor, 4-0

Men's Tennis Secures First Big 12 Win in Dominant Sweep at Baylor, 4-0

by Alex Clough

WACO, Texas – In a conference as talented as the Big 12, there will always be a next opportunity. On Sunday afternoon, the Knights took advantage of theirs, defeating No. 27 Baylor in dominating fashion to secure the program its first win in the Big 12, 4-0. The UCF men’s tennis team turned their form around following a difficult loss to No. 8 Texas on Friday to take down the conference’s most decorated program at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas.

Great team effort from everyone, we responded well and came through in the tough moments. That made the difference today. We also played great doubles at one and two.

Head coach Lloyd Bruce-Burgess

From coming back to take the doubles points, the Knights (15-2, 1-1) were brilliant throughout, controlling each court in singles en route to the triumph over the Bears (15-7, 0-2).

The squad’s resilience in doubles has grown throughout the season, as Bruce-Burgess has stressed the importance of getting out in front during conference play. UCF didn’t waiver after Baylor took the court three courtesy of a 6-1 result from Oskar Brostrom Poulsen and Christopher Frantzen.

Seconds following the defeat, the Knights took leads on the front two, led by strong performances from Yassine Dlimi and Paul Colin who leveled the bout at one-all following their fourth victory on court one over Tadeas Paroulek and Zsombor Velcz, 6-4.

On court two, the momentum and energy carried over, as Liam Branger and Lleyton Cronje clinched the doubles point for UCF following a 6-3 triumph over Martin Breysach and Luc Koenig. The tandem returned to winning ways, having now won six of its last eight.

Baylor, who also lost its Big 12 opener to No. 2 TCU, was too looking to get on the board during opening weekend alongside its younger counterparts. In unison though, the early advantage proved to be long-lasting as the Knights took the first set on all six courts to firmly take control of the match.

It would be the back three that carried UCF to history in Texas. Since transferring to Orlando last summer, Santiago Giamichelle has slotted in perfectly to the lineup and today, he began the Knights’ charge. The sophomore made quick work of Brostrom on court five, taking the contest, 6-2, 6-3.

One of two seniors on the team, Branger followed suit with a brilliant showing of his own, also taking his match in straight sets over Luc Koenig following a dramatic second-set tiebreak, 6-3, 7-1(1). The Frenchman continues his winning ways with his fifth straight as he's yet to lose in March.

Minutes later, the clincher would come on court six courtesy of Mehdi Benchakorun. The Moroccan native battled throughout en route to his 11th win of the campaign, holding firm in the second set to take his bout with Ethan Muza, 6-1, 6-4.

Courts one through three would go unfinished as Dlimi was amid his third set on one, while Llanes and Cronje were battling late in the second.

UCF becomes the first new program to secure a win in the Big 12 as the squad, led by Bruce-Burgess and assistant coach Kareem Allaf, continues to raise eyebrows in the first season of a new chapter for tennis in Orlando.

Returning home for its inaugural home match next Thursday against No. 25 Oklahoma State at 7 p.m., the Knights will open a four-match homestand at the USTA National Campus. A Saturday tilt against Oklahoma will follow at 6 p.m.

Singles Competition

  1. #74 Zsombor Velcz (BU) vs. Yassine Dlimi (UCF) 3-6, 6-4, 2-4, unfinished
  2. #50 Tadeas Paroulek (BU) vs. Francisco Llanes (UCF) 4-6, 5-3, unfinished
  3. Louis Bowden (BU) vs. Lleyton Cronje (UCF) 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, unfinished
  4. Liam Branger (UCF) def. Luc Koenig (BU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
  5. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Oskar Brostrom (BU) 6-2, 6-3
  6. Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Ethan Muza (BU) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles Competition

  1. Yassine Dlimi/Paul Colin (UCF) def. #40 Tadeas Paroulek/Zsombor Velcz (BU) 6-4
  2. Liam Branger/Lleyton Cronje (UCF) def. Martin Breysach/Luc Koenig (BU) 6-3
  3. Christopher Frantzen/Oskar Brostrom (BU) def. Francisco Llanes/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) 6-1

Order of Finish

  • Singles: 5,4,6
  • Doubles: 3,1,2