Trio of Former Gators Making Headlines at Wimbledon
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 | Women's Tennis
Three former University of Florida tennis standouts are competing in the main draws at Wimbledon, with Jill Craybas, Jesse Levine and Lisa Raymond gearing up at The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.
The 1996 NCAA Singles Champion, Craybas began her ninth Wimbledon singles appearance with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL), before falling to No. 26-seeded Virginie Razzano (FRA), 6-3, 6-0 in the second round. Craybas also is competing in the Ladies Doubles draw with Carly Gullickson and the Mixed Doubles event with Jeff Coetzee. Craybas' best Wimbledon singles showing came in 2005, when she marched into the fourth round. She reached the third round of the 2007 doubles draw.
Levine, who wore the Orange & Blue in 2007, produced the biggest upset in the opening round of the men's draw with his 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over tennis legend Marat Safin (RUS), who was playing in his final Wimbledon. Levine also reached Wimbledon's second round last year, as well as the second round of the 2008 Australian Open to mark his best showings in a Grand Slam. He will play Pablo Cuevas (URU) in the next round.
The tennis veteran of the Gator trio competing at Wimbledon this year, Raymond sets her sights on winning a 10th Grand Slam title, including a third Wimbledon crown. During her stellar professional career, Raymond, the 1992 and 1993 NCAA Singles Champion, has won five Ladies' Doubles Grand Slam titles and four Mixed Doubles championships. Raymond captured the 2001 Ladies' and the 1999 Mixed Doubles Wimbledon titles. Last year, she reached the final of the Ladies' Wimbledon draw, but lost to the sister pair of Serena and Venus Williams in the title match. In 2009, Raymond pairs with Vera Zvonareva in the Ladies' draw and Marcin Matkowski in the Mix Doubles event.
Live results from Wimbledon can be found at: www.wimbledon.org
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