Florida Gators
National Team Indoor - UCLA
Men's Tennis Defeated By UCLA, 4-2
Saturday, February 7, 2004 | Men's Tennis
For the first time this season, the University of Florida men's tennis team fell to an opponent, as the Gators were defeated, 4-2, by sixth-ranked UCLA late Friday night in the quarterfinal round of the USTA/ITA Team Indoor Championships. With the setback, the Gators fall to 5-1 on the season.
A season ago, UF took then top-ranked UCLA out of the tournament in the same round. However, this time UCLA got off to a quick start and claimed the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. Alberto Francis and Kris Kwinta teamed to outlast UF's Hamid Mirzadeh and Chris Brandi at the top of the line up, 9-7. Phillipp Gruendler and Yovan paired two courts down to clinch the point with an 8-5 win over Florida's Janne Holmia and Martin Stiegwardt.
Florida's Vlad Obradovic did put a point on the board for the Gators with his win over UCLA's Chris Lam (6-3, 6-2) on court two, marking the highest position in the lineup the UF junior has appeared in this season. Florida also got a win from Stiegwardt as he fought back after dropping his first set to Gruendler for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win. UCLA got the three wins it needed on courts three, four and six. Francis took Florida's Chris Brandi in three sets, (6-4, 4-6, 6-3), while Kwinta also went three sets with UF's Ryan Sherry one court down (4-6, 6-3, 6-0). Chris Surapol defeated Florida's Stefan Tell on court six in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
UF will be back in action on Saturday as the Gators will play in the consolation bracket at 8 p.m. ET. Florida's opponent will be determined in matches being played late Friday night.
USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships
Quarterfinals - Feb. 6, 2004
(6) UCLA 4 def. (3) Florida 2
Doubles
1. Francis & Kwinta (UCLA) def. Mirzadeh & Brandi (Flor.) 9-7
2. Obradovic & Johnson (Flor.) def. Clemens & Lam (UCLA) 8-4
3. Gruendler & Yovan (UCLA) def. Holmia & Stiegwardt (Flor.) 8-5
Singles
1. Hamid Mirzadeh (Flor.) vs. Tobias Clemens (UCLA) DNF
2. Vlad Obradovic (Flor.) def. Chris Lam (UCLA) 6-3, 6-2
3. Alberto Francis (UCLA) d. Chris Brandi (Flor.) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
4. Kris Kwinta (UCLA) def. Ryan Sherry (Flor.) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
5. Martin Stiegwardt (Flor.) def. Philipp Gruendler (UCLA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Chris Surapol (UCLA) def. Stefan Tell (Flor.) 6-3, 6-2
