With Florida serving its way back into action, the Gators opened their Fall slate at the SEC Challenge and expectations were high. UF found success and put its talents on display for the to start the season on a high note.
The eighth schools competing opened play on Friday, playing in their doubles matches and moving into singles play later that same day.
The Gators opened the first day of action with the duos of sophomore Kevin Edengren and redshirt senior JanMagnus Johnson, sophomore Henry Jefferson and graduate student Bradley Paliska as sophomore Mattia Akcan and freshman Francesco Cordova rounded out the doubles pairs.
The Gators swept every one of their doubles matches Friday. Edengren and Johnson won their opening match 8-7 (5). Jefferson and Paliska defeated junior Carlos Gimenez Perez and senior Damien Nezar of the host school Alabama 8-7 (6). Lastly, Akcan and Cordova defeated junior Thomas Kennedy and freshman Joey Phillips from Auburn 8-6.
After the doubles matches concluded, UF moved onto singles play where it didn’t see the same luck as earlier in the day. The only Gator to earn a victory was Edengren. The rest of the Gators saw defeat while Paliska was the only Gator to not lose in straight sets.
Doubles play on day two was an uphill battle for the Gators. Florida was able to win just one out of its three matches as Edengren and Johnson defeated Auburn’s junior Billy Blaydes and sophomore Nick Heng 8-3.
UF’s slow start on Saturday was picked up by quality performances on the singles courts as Akcan, Jefferson and Edengren won in straight sets.
On the third and final day of the event, the Gators were able to tally two more wins in the doubles department. Jefferson and Paliska defeated junior Charlie Cosnet and Matt Rankin from Kentucky. Akcan and Cordova defeated Ole Miss freshmen Matthieu Chambonniere and Benjamin Martin 8-6.
During the final matches of singles play, two of the six Gators competing came away victorious with Ackan and Jefferson leading the way for UF.
Jefferson was the only Gator to go undefeated on the singles court throughout the weekend, posting a superb record of 3-0.
Florida will continue its Fall slate at the Fayetteville 25K Features event hosted by the University of Arkansas. The seven day event will be held from Sept. 16-22.
Contact Carston Handy at chandy@alligator.org. Follow Carston on X @carston_handy.
Carston Handy is a junior journalism major with a focus in sports and media. Fall 2024 marks his first semester reporting sports with the Alligator. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his fiancé and their dog. He also enjoys playing a bunch of sports, including pickleball, basketball and soccer.
