The No. 2 Florida women’s tennis team fought its way to a 5-2 victory over No. 25 South Florida on Tuesday in Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex.
It was the first time the Gators (5-0) have been challenged all season, as the team’s first four wins were all shutouts.
UF captured the doubles point easily, sweeping all three courts in less than an hour.
However, the fast start did not carry over to the singles matches, as two Florida freshmen were handed their first dual-match losses.
The other four singles courts saw each Gator win in straight sets, including an impressive 6-0, 6-3 victory by Lauren Embree over No. 24 Irene Rehberger.
“I thought I played a lot better today than I have been,” Embree said. “I knew our competition was better and I was going to have to step up my game."
On Court 2, Sofie Oyen suffered her first setback at the hands of Ecaterina Vasenina in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2). Florida’s Olivia Janowicz lost to USF’s Janette Bejlkova, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (12-10).
Although she competed in doubles, Sophomore Allie Will, ranked No. 7 in the ITA singles rankings, was held out of individual action.
South Florida is the first of three consecutive top-25 teams on Florida's schedule, as it will travel to No. 4 North Carolina and No. 6 Duke this weekend.
After that, the Gators will head to the ITA National Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va., where 16 top-25 teams will compete.
"This will help us in our next matches, as every one of our opponents will be better," Embree said.
“While players don’t like to lose, our two freshmen who lost today learned a lot,” UF coach Roland Thornqvist said.
“This South Florida team thought they could beat us, and it was really good to have that kind of competition heading into this weekend’s matches.”
