Only one Gator is still in the running to win the singles bracket in the 2014 Saint Francis Health System ITA Men’s All-American Championship.
Junior Gordon Watson defeated Northwestern’s Strong Kirchheimer in straight sets (7-6 (4), 6-3). Sophomore Elliott Orkin lost to Felipe Rios from Baylor University (7-6 (4), 6-3).
Orkin was the No. 16 seed after winning the recent Southeastern Conference Fall Classic title.
Watson will play the second qualifying round Tuesday morning.
If he wins, Watson will advance to the third and last qualifying round, before entering the main draw.
The main draw will be held at the University of Tulsa from Thursday through Monday.
Each of the singles semifinalists, doubles finalists and consolation champions will win a seat in the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Nov. 6-9 in Flushing, N.Y.
Sophomore Maxx Lipman lost in the first round of the qualifying matches to Ole Miss’ Stefan Lindmark (2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4). Captains Lipman, Watson and Orkin will participate in the qualifying doubles rounds starting today.
Redshirt freshmen Oliver Landert and Josh Wardell ended the ITA tournament with consolation wins, after losing round one in the pre-qualifying matches. Landert defeated Shakeel Manji of Memphis (6-1, 6-4), and Wardell topped Rodrigo Oliveira from Illinois St. (6-1, 6-3).
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Gordon Watson returns a ball during Florida’s 5-2 win against North Florida on Jan. 22 at the Ring Tennis Complex.
