A three-hour rain delay didn’t stop Florida’s men’s tennis team from winning matches on Monday.
The UF men’s tennis team continued competition on Day 4 of the ITA Regional Championships in Atlanta, earning two doubles wins and two singles wins.
In the main draw of doubles play, two Gators duos were successful in taking away wins for their respective matches.
The pair of freshman Oliver Crawford and senior Chase Perez-Blanco defeated Walter Duncan and Wayne Montgomery of the University of Georgia by default.
On Tuesday, Crawford and Perez-Blanco will take on Linus Bergevi and Colter DeCoste of Stetson in the tournament’s semifinals round.
The duo of freshman Andy Andrade and junior McClain Kessler beat Peter Bertran and Alberto Barroso-Campos of South Florida, 8-4.
Andrade and Kessler will take on Robert Loeb and Jan Zielinski of Georgia in the semifinals on Tuesday.
If both UF doubles teams win their matches, they will compete against each other in the finals, which will also be played on Tuesday.
In singles consolation play, the Gators fought hard against tough competition from Florida State and Georgia, but the upperclassmen ultimately fell to their opponents.
Junior Jordan Belga lost to Jose Gracia of FSU (7-6(4), 6-1) and sophomore Stephen Madonia and Alex Phillips of UGA (7-6(3), 6-1).
Freshman Andy Andrade won his third-round match against Sebastian Acuna of Georgia State in two straight sets, 6-2, 7-6(2). He advanced to the fourth round against Felipe Ramirez of Florida Gulf Coast where he took an easy win, 6-1, 6-3.
Andrade will compete against Jose Gracia of FSU for the consolation singles title.
The Gators will finish out doubles play and singles consolation play on Tuesday when Andrade takes the court for singles play at 9 a.m.
Women’s Pro Circuit Update
After a series of rain storms in Florence, South Carolina, senior Josie Kuhlman will resume play at the Florence Open, a UTSA pro circuit women’s tournament, on Tuesday.
All of Monday’s matches were canceled due to the weather.
Senior Josie Kuhlman will compete against Chloe Beck, also of the United States, in the second round of the singles qualifying draw at 10 a.m.
You can follow Mari Faiello on Twitter @faiello_mari, and contact her at mfaiello@alligator.org.
Senior Chase Perez-Blanco played the last regular-season match of his Gators career in UF's 7-0 victory over Alabama on Friday. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “It’s just been the best four years.”
