ORLANDO - The first of three events that serve as qualification to November's NCAA Individual Championships, a trio of Knights got their fall campaigns off to a strong start, including a pair of pre-qualifying slates that resulted in a combined six wins.
Below is day-by-day recap of a busy week in the Sooner State:
- Tuesday: Dlimi Exits ITA All-Americans With Consolation Defeat
Looking to bounce back after a difficult result yesterday, Dlimi couldn't find momentum in the first round of the singles qualifying consolation bracket, falling to Mississippi State's Benito Sanchez Martinez, 6-3, 6-3
- Monday (Evening): Remarkable Comeback Propels Benchakroun and Giamichelle Into the Next Round
After facing a match point in the second set, down 5-4, Mehdi Benchakroun and Santiago Giamichelle found their footing, battling back to take three consecutive games before dominating a shortened third set, 10-5.
Facing off with Ohio State's William Jensen and Christopher Li, the Knights tandem dropped a tough first set but continued breaking the Buckeyes down the stretch before finishing the match, 3-6, 7-5, 1-0(10-5).
Benchakroun and Giamichelle were forced to withdraw from the second round of doubles qualifiers due to injury.
- Monday (Afternoon): Benchakroun and Giamichelle Fall in the First Round of Qualifying
After a strong weekend slate, including three wins across two days to advance into the qualifying round, Benchakroun dropped a back-and-forth match with Pepperdine's Maxi Homberg after a pair of tiebreaks that set the tone. After a 7-6 first-set triumph, the Moroccan wasn't able to replicate the result in the second, dropping the tiebreak. Though the junior had a chance to jump out to a commanding lead in the third, Homberg would eventually prevail, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-4.
Giamichelle couldn't find momentum in his first-round bout with Kentucky's Jaden Weekes, dropping the contest, 6-1, 6-2.
- Monday (Morning): Dlimi Defeated in Qualifying Round
As Benchakroun and Giamichelle joined Dlimi in the qualifying stage, the junior wasn't able to capitalize on a strong first set, dropping the next two to North Carolina's Anthony Wright, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. The Englishman was able to break Dlimi early in the second before doing the same in the third.
- Sunday (Night): Knights Qualify Two Into the Qualifying Round
Saturday night saw another resounding effort from Benchakroun and Giamichelle to join Yassine Dlimi in tomorrow's qualifying round. It took a pair of three-set thrillers to do so as the tandem has now won six matches combined over the first two days of the ITA All-American Championships.
Benchakroun bounced back after dropping the first set against Texas A&M's Luke Casper, taking the second in a tiebreak before securing the win with a strong third, 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. Giamichelle was in a similar situation after North Carolina's Anthony Wright took the opening set, though the junior showed composure with a momentum-shifting second-set tiebreak and a commanding performance in the third, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2.
- Sunday (Afternoon): Giamichelle and Benchakroun Continue Good Form Into the Round of 32
Against a pair of Florida foes, UCF advanced two into the final stage of pre-qualifying later this afternoon. Santiago Giamichelle set the tone with a convincing effort against Florida's Magnus Johnson, 7-6(5), 6-3. While Johsnon didn't feature in either of the program's matches in the spring, he has gotten the better of multiple Knights in the fall of 2023.
Benchakroun continued in the footsteps with a win over Stetson's Christian Kuehne, 6-0, 6-2.
Giamichelle will face North Carolina's Anthony Wright who bested Oklahoma's Oscar Lacides in three sets earlier today. Benchakroun is awaiting Texas A&M's Luke Casper as qualification to the qualifying round is on the line, where they'll each look to join Yassine Dlimi.
- Saturday: Knights Off to a Strong Start With a Pair of Straight-Set Triumphs
Opening the week-long tournament, Giamichelle and Benchakroun both had impressive debuts as each secured advancement to the round of 64 during day one of pre-qualifying.
Benchakroun set the tone with an impressive performance against Baylor's Louis Bowden in a Big 12 bout on Saturday morning. The Englishman previously went 8-10 during his freshman campaign with the Bears, including multiple impressive wins in conference play. The 6-4, 6-4, victory will see Benchakroun face Stetson's Christian Kuehne on Sunday.
Following suit, Giamichelle dominated Old Dominion's Codie Schalk Van Schalkwyk, 6-1, 6-1. Awaiting the Argentianan will be Florida's Magnus Johnson who is coming off an impressive 6-1, 6-1, victory of his own in the first round.
RESULTS
Pre-Qualifying (Singles)
Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Louis Bowden (Baylor): 6-4, 6-3
Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Codie Schalk Van Schalkwyk (Old Dominion): 6-1, 6-1
Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Christian Kuehne (Stetson): 6-0, 6-2
Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Magnus Johnson (Florida): 7-6(5), 6-3
Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Luke Casper (Texas A&M): 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4
Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Anthony Wright (North Carolina): 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2
Qualifying (Singles)
Anthony Wright (UNC) def. Yassine Dlimi (UCF): 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
Maxi Homberg (Pepperdine) def. Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF): 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-4
Jaden Weekes (Kentucky) def. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF): 6-1, 6-2
Qualifying Consolation (Singles)
Benito Sanchez Martinez (Mississippi State) def. Yassine Dlimi (UCF): 6-3, 6-3
Qualifying (Doubles)
Mehdi Benchakroun/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. William Jensen/Christopher Li (Ohio State): 3-6, 7-5, 1-0(10-5)