No. 21 Men's Tennis Prevails in Comeback at Florida Atlantic, 4-3No. 21 Men's Tennis Prevails in Comeback at Florida Atlantic, 4-3
Edward Finan / UCF Athletics

No. 21 Men's Tennis Prevails in Comeback at Florida Atlantic, 4-3

by Alex Clough
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BOCA RATON, Florida - Having opened the season with historic wins and program firsts across the team’s first eight matches, the 21st-ranked Knights were on the brink of their second consecutive loss Sunday afternoon.

Down 3-0 to Florida Atlantic, the UCF men’s tennis team drew inspiration from the numerous comebacks a season ago, eventually climbing out of the hole to secure the dramatic 4-3 victory.

The Knights (9-1) needed four courts in singles after the Owls (0-4) took the doubles point, as two teams entering the match in vastly different circumstances each had opportunities to prevail. The clincher would fall to Yassine Dlimi once again, as the junior tallied his second-consecutive for the Black and Gold to move the squad back into the win column prior to the school’s first ITA Indoor Championships next week in Waco, Texas.

 

On the back of seven consecutive doubles points, the Knights couldn’t secure the early advantage as a strong Owls display saw the side claim wins on courts one and three. 

While the tandem of Mehdi Benchakroun and Santiago Giamichelle leveled the match with their seventh win of the season on court two, Florida Atlantic responded with the clincher on three courtesy of Segundo Goity and Lucca Pignaton’s triumph, 6-4, over Yassine Dlimi and Emilio Sanchez.

Singles saw the Knights secure much-needed first sets on four courts, highlighted by Dlimi prevailing in a contested tiebreak with Mark Havlicek, 7-5. 

Paul Colin and Sanchez wouldn’t be able to bounce back after falling into early holes, with the Owls moving within one point following wins on courts one and six.

 

Incredible effort from the team. With so many matches, constant travel, and the weight of history on their shoulders, it’s been tough. Losing to Miami after holding match points was brutal, but bouncing back from 3-0 down against FAU in tough conditions says everything about the character of our players.

Head Coach Lloyd Bruce-Burgess

Having been in similar spots before, the Knights still had a path forward, with Liam Branger tallying the first point with his straight-set triumph on court five over Marek Pazdera, 6-4, 6-2. Giamichelle would follow shortly after to remain a perfect 9-0 on the season as the junior disposed of Jan Kusy, 6-4, 6-4.

After being handed his first loss of the season on Friday at Miami, Benchakroun secured the upper hand in the third set, defeating Goity on court three, 6-2, 1-6, 6-0, to level the match. The sweep in the final set marks his fifth of the season as the 108th-ranked Moroccan continues to suffocate opponents when it matters most.

Having claimed his first clinch of the season earlier this week at South Florida, Dlimi showed composure once again, defeating Havlicek on court two, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3. Similar to Benchakroun and Branger, the junior responded well to a difficult defeat on Friday, staying consistent en route to the three-set triumph.

The Knights won’t have much time to ponder over a nervy three days in South Florida as the squad will embark on the ITA Indoor Championships for the first time in program history. UCF will learn its first-round opponents on Tuesday before the tournament gets underway on Friday at Baylor.

Singles Results

1. John Bernard (FAU) def. Paul Colin (UCF) 6-3, 6-3

2. Yassine Dlimi (UCF) Mark Havlicek (FAU) 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3

3. #108 Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Segundo Goity (FAU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-0

4. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Jan Kusy (FAU) 6-4, 6-4

5. Liam Branger (UCF) def. Marek Pazdera (FAU) 6-4, 6-2

6. Simon Myslivec (FAU) def. Emilio Sanchez (UCF) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles Results

1. John Bernard/Mark Havlicek (FAU) def. Liam Branger/Paul Colin (UCF) 6-1

2. Mehdi Benchakroun/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Simon Myslivec/Marek Pazdera (FAU) 6-3

3. Segundo Goity/Lucca Pignaton (FAU) def. Yassine Dlimi/Emilio Sanchez (UCF) 6-4