Florida’s men’s tennis team hasn’t lost to Florida State since 2007, winning the past seven dual matches between the two in-state rivals.
The Gators (4-3) will try to run that streak to eight straight Saturday when they take on the Seminoles (8-2) at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville at 1 p.m.
Florida has struggled to win against elite-level programs in 2016, losing to three teams ranked in the top 40 this season. However, the Gators have been competitive in each match, with all three losses coming down to the final singles point.
“As frustrating as it is that we’ve lost a few of these close matches against top teams, we are encouraged knowing that we’ve got a team that competes really hard, and if we continue to improve throughout the season, we feel like we will break through,” Florida coach Bryan Shelton said. “It’s a quality team, and in my opinion it’s the best team I’ve had since I’ve been here.”
The match against FSU tomorrow will be the Gators final test before they begin SEC play. The Seminoles have been consistent through their first ten matches this season, with their only losses coming to then-No. 3 Texas A&M and then-No. 13 South Florida.
“I know we’ve had battles with them every year that I’ve been here, and I think this year they’ve probably got arguably their best squad since I’ve been here,” coach Shelton said. “So the challenge is going to be a big one for sure. But we’re playing at home, we’ll be playing in front of our crowd and that’s always a good thing for us.”
Florida State boasts two of the top singles players in the country this season, with redshirt senior Benjamin Lock ranked No. 16 in the country and senior Marco Nunez ranked No. 85. Both players are 5-2 this spring.
Lock and Nunez are also FSU’s top doubles pair, and defeated UF’s Diego Hidalgo and Gordon Watson last year 6-0.
Six of the seven Seminoles who played in last season’s match against the Gators are back again this season. Florida won that match 4-2, losing the doubles point but winning four of the six singles matches.
Following tomorrow’s match against Florida State, UF will be spending its spring break preparing for their first two conference battles of the season. The Gators take on LSU on March 4, followed by a matchup with Texas A&M on March 6.
Contact Dylan Dixon at ddixon@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @dylanrdixon.
UF men's tennis coach Bryan Shelton looks on during Florida's 6-1 win over Troy on Jan. 17, 2016, at the Ring Tennis Complex.
