The 10th-ranked University of Florida men's tennis team started the 2009 dual match season with a 5-2 victory over Furman on Friday afternoon at the Ring Tennis Complex.
With the win, Florida claimed its 21st consecutive victory in season openers and the 25th straight match over Furman. In contrast to the Paladins, who returned all letterwinners from last year's NCAA tournament team, Florida's lineup featured three players who made their first appearance in an NCAA dual match: redshirt junior Antoine Benneteau (Boulogne-Billancourt,France) and true freshmen Carlos Cueto (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain) and Joey Burkhardt (St. Augustine, Fla.).
The No. 1 doubles pair of Benneteau and Burkhardt kicked off the 2009 dual match season with a 8-4 win over Andy Juc and Chris Motes. Sophomores Jeff Dadamo (Tampa, Fla) and Johnny Hamui (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) defeated Bo Ladyman and Jordan Walters, 9-7, while sophomore Alex Lacroix (Paris, France) and Cueto downed Chris Rhyne and Andrei Chvestov, 8-6, to complete the Gators' sweep and give UF a 1-0 lead.
In singles action, Cueto (No. 87), Lacroix and Benneteau extended Florida's lead to 4-0 to clinch the victory for Florida. Cueto defeated Juc handily, 6-1, 6-0, in his debut at the No. 1 position. Benneteau notched his first singles win in a dual match after defeating Daniel Knause in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, while Lacroix provided the clincher with a 6-2, 6-2 showing over Ladyman on court two. Hamui rounded out the scoring after defeating Walters, 6-1, 6-4.
Florida returns to action on Sunday when the Gators host No. 7 Baylor at 1 p.m. Baylor is the highest-ranked team that will travel to Linder Stadium in 2009. Admission to the event is free.
College Men's Tennis
Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex
Gainesville, Fla.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Final Score: Florida 5, Furman 2
Doubles
No. 1 Joey Burkhardt/Antoine Benneteau (UF) def. Andy Juc/Chris Motes (Furman), 8-4
No. 2 Jeff Dadamo/Johnny Hamui (UF) def. Bo Ladyman/Jordan Walters (Furman), 9-7
No. 3 Alex Lacroix/Carlos Cueto (UF) def. Chris Rhyne/Andrei Chvestov (Furman), 8-6
Singles
No. 1 (87) Carlos Cueto (UF) def. Andy Juc (Furman) 6-1, 6-0
No. 2 Alex Lacroix (UF) def. Bo Ladyman (Furman) 6-2, 6-2
No. 3 Antoine Benneteau (UF) def. Daniel Knause (Furman) 6-2, 6-1
No. 4 Philipp Fuelkell (Furman) def. (63) Joey Burkhardt (UF), 7-5, 7-5
No. 5 Johnny Hamui (UF) def. Jordan Walters (Furman) 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 Sawyer Duncan (Furman) def. Jeff Dadamo (UF) 7-5, 6-3
Order of Finish: Doubles – 1, 3, 2 Singles – 1, 3, 2, 6, 5, 4
-UF-
