Men's Tennis Dominates Oklahoma State, 4-0, in First Round at ITA Kickoff WeekendMen's Tennis Dominates Oklahoma State, 4-0, in First Round at ITA Kickoff Weekend
Edward Finan / UCF Athletics

Men's Tennis Dominates Oklahoma State, 4-0, in First Round at ITA Kickoff Weekend

by Alex Clough
Box Score (PDF)

TUCSON, Arizona - Picked to finish a spot behind Oklahoma State in the Big 12 preseason poll, the UCF men’s tennis team proved its place among the conference’s best with a dominating sweep of the Cowboys, 4-0, in the first round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend this afternoon.

Competing in their first kickoff weekend under head coach Lloyd Bruce-Burgess, the Knights left no room for uncertainty en route to the win, swiftly taking three courts in singles to move onto tomorrow’s finals.

So proud of how we competed today, handled business as I expected us to do. It will be a very big test tomorrow. The job isn’t done and we are here to get through the region.

Head coach Lloyd Bruce-Burgess

While the two squads split a pair of meetings in 2024, the Cowboys secured the doubles point in each, leaving the Knights’ singles slate a more daunting task. Though off the backs of three consecutive doubles triumphs for the Black and Gold, their momentum was too much for Oklahoma State this time around, clinching the early advantage.

Familiar faces Mehdi Benchakroun and Santiago Giamichelle set the tone with a dominating display on court three, breaking early and fending off any counter, 6-3. Minutes later, the Knights responded after Paul Colin and Liam Branger fell on court one, with Yassine Dlimi and Emilio Sanchez taking their second-straight match on court two, 6-4.

UCF took four first sets to commence singles action, leaving Bruce-Burgess and his squad in a strong position. Dlimi would be the first to clinch his bout on court two, breezing past Alessio Basile in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, to remain unbeaten.

Already off to a 3-0 start in singles, Giamichelle sealed his perfect day with a dominating 6-4, 6-4, win on court five versus the Cowboys’ Ian Bracks. Oklahoma State would find some games and push each court to back-and-forth second sets, even moving court one’s bout to a third.

After leading the team in clinches a season ago, Branger eventually found the winner, prevailing on court four, 6-3, 7-5.

Colin, Benchakroun and Nicolas Oliveira each went unfinished, as the latter was amidst a second-set tiebreak to force a third set.

The Knights will play for a spot at the ITA Indoor Championships tomorrow afternoon for the third time in program history. UCF will play the winner of today’s contest between host No. 6 Arizona and USC.

Singles Results

1. No. 108 Isaac Becroft (OSU) vs. Paul Colin (UCF) 3-6, 6-4, 1-1, unfinished

2. Yassine Dlimi (UCF) def. Alessio Basile (OSU) 6-3, 6-1

3. Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) vs. Derek Pham (OSU) 6-1, 6-6 (4-3), unfinished

4. Liam Branger (UCF) def. Nicolas Kobelt (OSU) 6-3, 7-5

5. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Ian Bracks (OSU) 6-4, 6-4

6. Matei Onofrei (OSU) vs. Nicolas Oliveira (UCF) 6-4, 6-6 (4-2), unfinished

Doubles Results

1. Isaac Becroft/Alessio Basile (OSU) def. Liam Branger/Paul Colin (UCF) 6-3

2. Yassine Dlimi/Emilio Sanchez (UCF) def. Derek Pham/Thomas Gadecki (OSU) 6-4

3. Mehdi Benchakroun/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Ian Bracks/Nicolas Kobelt (OSU) 6-3