ORLANDO - The No. 13 UCF men’s tennis took care of business in the first of two matches at the USTA National Campus on Friday. Led by strong play on the front two courts, the Knights dominated UNC-Wilmington 4-2 to commence an action-packed weekend in style.
UCF will be back to close the twin-bill against Coastal Carolina at 6 p.m. ET.
MATCH ONE
⚔️ KNIGHTS WIN ⚔️
— UCF Men's Tennis (@UCF_MTennis) March 7, 2025
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Having already matched last season’s win tally in doubles, the Knights continue to show their strength in early situations. Against an experienced Seahawks lineup, UCF shifted Yassine Dlimi and Emilio Sanchez up to court one, with the duo offering one of their best performances to date, disposing of UNCW’s Jordi Domenech and Joseph Wayand.
Making their third appearance together in 2025, Luca Hotze and Simeon Terziev were handed their first loss as the Seahawks leveled the point.
Exactly the duo needed to break the deadlock, Mehdi Benchakroun and Santiago Giamichelle delivered once again on court two, breaking Trey Mallory and Alex de Gabriele at five-all before holding serve to claim their ninth win of the campaign.
The Knights were emphatic in their singles display, taking first sets on five of six courts, headlined by the back three jumping out to leads swiftly.
Benchakroun’s bout on court two was the first to fall as the two-time Big 12 Player of the Week swept UNCW’s Sam Nicholson, 6-2, 6-1, moving to 11-1 on the season. On court five, Emilio Sanchez bageled Trey Mallory in the second, taking the contest in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0.
It was a race for the clincher, as a trio of Knights were winding down their strong performances. After jumping 15 spots in the latest ITA rankings, Dlimi proved his 85th placement with a composed 6-1, 6-3, win on court one against Harold Huens, 6-1, 6-3.
Giamichelle was up 6-5 in the second on court five, while Nicolas Oliveira was leading Alexander Thompson 4-3 after dominating the first set.
Singles Results
- #85 Yassine Dlimi (UCF) def. Harold Huens (UNCW) 6-1, 6-3
- Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Sam Nicholson (UNCW) 6-2, 6-1
- Joseph Wayand (UNCW) vs. Paul Colin (UCF) 6-3, 6-2
- Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) Lukas Steffen (UNCW) 6-2, 6-5, unfinished
5. Emilio Sanchez (UCF) Trey Mallory (UNCW) 6-4, 6-0 - Nicolas Oliveira (UCF) Alexander Thompson (UNCW) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
Doubles Results
- Yassine Dlimi/Emilio Sanchez (UCF) def. Jordi Domenech/Joseph Wayand (UNCW) 6-2
- Mehdi Benchakroun/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) def. Trey Mallory/Alex de Gabriele (UNCW) 6-3
- Harold Huens/Lukas Steffen (UNCW) def. Luca Hotze/Simeon Terziev (UCF) 6-3
MATCH TWO
The match showcased dedication and grit on either side of the net. It was a battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
The doubles matchup kicked off quickly, with the Knights taking charge early. Paul Colin and Mehdi Benchakroun secured the first win for UCF, dominating their match on court two with a 6-1 victory. This win also marked their first-ever doubles success together this season, adding an exciting milestone to their record.
Shortly after, Yassine Dlimi and Emilio Sanchez stepped up to seal the second win for UCF. In a more grueling contest, they battled through tough points, finally finishing their match on court one with a 6-4 win. Their resilience proved crucial as they secured the second point for the Knights.
At the same time, Luca Hotze and Simeon Terziev fought valiantly on court three, pushing their match to the deciding point at 40-all. Despite their best efforts, their match went uncontested as the Knights locked in their advantage in the doubles competition, thanks to Dlimi and Sanchez’s hard-fought win.
The singles matchup was a back-and-forth affair for all, both teams determined to outplay their opponent. Colin set the tone for UCF early on, dominating the first set with a strong 6-1 victory.
Coastal Carolina came back with pressure in the second set, but Colin remained composed, overcoming the push and sealing the first singles win for UCF, with a 6-3 victory in the second set.
For Dlimi, it was more of the same, coming through at 7-5. In the second set, Dlimi took complete control, showcasing his aggressive serves, powerful swings, and unwavering determination to finish on top. He powered through with a dominant 6-1 win, earning the second singles victory for UCF.
It was up to the remaining Knights, Sanchez and Hotze to secure the final win.
The energy was intense between Sanchez and his opponent. Swiftly trading points, no one had more than a one-point lead. It came down to who wanted it more. The first set was tightly contested, with Sanchez edging out a 7-5 win, but no one was going down without a fight in the second set. After several deuce points, it came down to a critical moment at 40-40 with UCF leading 6-5.
In a dramatic conclusion, Sanchez fought until the end and sealed the deal with another 7-5 win, clinching the victory for the Knights.
Singles Results
- #85 Yassine Dlimi (UCF) def. Juan Cruz Collardin (CCU) 7-5, 6-1
- 2. Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) vs. Christopher Norlin (CCU) 6-2, 5-7, unfinished
- 3. Paul Colin (UCF) def. Jack Dixon (CCU) 6-1, 6-3
- 4. Curzio Manucci (CCU) def. Nicolas Oliveira (UCF) 7-5, 6-2
- 5. Emilio Sanchez (UCF) def. Emiliano Gonzalez (CCU) 7-5, 7-5
- 6. Luca Hotze (UCF) vs. Iannis Fernandes (CCU) 3-6, 6-3, 4-2, unfinished
Doubles Results
- Yassine Dlimi/Emilio Sanchez (UCF) def. Christopher Norlin/Iannis Fernandes (CCU) 6-4
- 2. Paul Colin/Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. Gonzalez Balmaceda/Jack Dixon (CCU) 6-1
- 3. Luca Hotze/Simeon Terziev (UCF) vs. Rivers Cahill/Juan Cruz Collardin (CCU) 5-6, unfinished
UP NEXT
The Knights will face off against South Florida on Sunday at USTA National Campus in Orlando at 3 pm.