Florida Gators
SEC Fall Classic - Day 3
Florida Readies for All-Gator Semifinal at SEC Fall Classic
Sunday, September 21, 2014 | Men's Tennis
Head coach Bryan Shelton and the Gators couldn't be in a better situation as Diego Hidalgo, Maxx Lipman, Elliott Orkin and Gordon Watson advanced in Main Draw Singles, creating an All-Gator semifinal showdown slated for the fourth and final day of the SEC Fall Classic at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville.
No. 8-seeded Orkin secured his spot in the semifinals with a win in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, over Rhys Johnson of Vanderbilt. Lipman advanced to the final four following a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Marko Krickovic from Auburn. Hidalgo earned a hard-fought victory over Tennessee's Igor Smelyanski, 7-6, 6-4, to ensure a trip to the semifinal round. Watson took the first set from Kyle Koch of South Carolina, 6-3, but dropped the second, 3-6. The Gator captain recovered in the third, 6-3, ensuring at least one more match in the main draw.
The dynamic doubles duo of Watson and Hidalgo, the tournament's No. 4-seed, earned the SEC Fall Classic doubles crown with an 8-2 victory over Thomas Mayronne and Harrison O'Keefe of South Carolina. The Gator tandem earned their spot in the final earlier in the day when they took down Shane Vinsant and A.J. Catanzariti from Texas A&M.
Freshman Jordan Belga was named the SEC Fall Classic Consolation Singles champion. Belga battled back from a first set 5-7 loss to Vanderbilt's Kris Yee in the consolation semifinals and took the second set, 6-3, forcing a third-set super tiebreak. Belga clinched the deciding set, 10-7. He earned the consolation crown by default as his would-be final opponent's team decided to depart a day early.
Shelton's Notes
“I've been in this position before and it's a good position to be in. I think we'll be able to just relax and watch the guys compete. The difference is we won't really be coaching, we'll just observe and see how they battle. We told them they have to respect each other enough to battle each other. It just pushes the guys to play hard and it respects the game. I hope tomorrow our guys can go out there and play as if there's a title on the line because there is. It's not often when you get the chance to hold a trophy at the end of the week, so this is a great opportunity for those four.”
Gator Freshman Jordan Belga
On earning the bounce back semifinal win…
“It definitely meant a lot. I got more confidence from the other guys when they were starting to progress throughout the tournament. They were really pushing the standard and I felt like I had to up my standard, so it really gave me a boost of confidence with the team and with my game as well.”
On getting a feel for SEC competition…
“This definitely got my feet wet and my first look at what SEC competition will be like in the spring. I feel like I can bring something special and handle the level and the pace of SEC competition. I'm really looking forward to playing in the spring.”
2014 SEC Fall Classic Day 3 Results – UF Only
Sunday, September 21, 2014
SINGLES
Quarterfinals
Maxx Lipman (UF) def. Marko Krickovic (AUB), 7-5, 6-4
Diego Hidalgo (UF) def. Igor Smelyanski (UT), 7-6, 6-4
Elliott Orkin (UF) def. Rhys Johnson (VAN), 6-3, 6-2
Gordon Watson (UF) def. Kyle Koch (USC), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Consolation Quarterfinals
Jordan Belga (UF) def. Bartosz Sawicki (UT), 6-4, 7-5
Consolation Semifinals
Jordan Belga (UF) def. Kris Yee (VAN), 5-7, 6-3 (7)
DOUBLES
Semifinals
Gordon Watson/Diego Hidalgo (UF) def. Shane Vinsant/A.J. Catanzariti (A&M), 8-2
Final
Gordon Watson/Diego Hidalgo (UF) def. Mayronne/O'Keefe (USC), 8-2
UNATTACHED MATCHES (Coaches' Matches)
Josh Wardell (UF) def. Ryan Smith (VAN), 6-4, 6-2
Oliver Landert (UF) def. Zach Wilder (OM), 6-1, 6-1
Richard Brej (UF) def. Daniel Valent (VAN), 3-6, 6-4 (4)
Andrew Schafer (USC) def. Chase Perez-Blanco (UF), 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
2014 SEC Fall Classic Day 3 Results – NON-UF
SINGLES
Consolation Quarterfinals
Valero (UT) def. Munoz (ARK), 6-2, 6-4
Jorge (OM) def. Efferding (A&M), 1-6, 6-3 (7)
Yee (VAN) def. Cutura (MSU), 6-3, 7-5
Consolation Semifinals
Jorge (OM) def. Valero (UT), 6-0, 6-2
DOUBLES
Semifinals
Mayronne/O'Keefe (USC) def. Lindmark/Jorge (OM), 8-7 (6)
UNATTACHED MATCHES (Coaches' Matches)
Vinsant (A&M) def. Adams (USC), 6-7, 6-1, 6-3
Austin (VAN) def. Reese (UT), 6-3, 6-0
Catanzariti (A&M) def. Bhat (UT), 6-2, 6-2
Szabo (A&M) def. Binet (VAN), 6-2, 6-1
Offerdahl (VAN) def. Kennedy (LSU), 4-6, 6-0 (4)
Newman (VAN) def. Freund (LSU), 6-3, 6-3
Gowda (OM) def. Colunga (A&M), 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Allwardt (VAN) def. Lunkin (A&M), 6-4, 5-7 (8)
Agarwal (MSU) def. Kallberg (OM), 6-3, 6-1
Eswaran (VAN) def. Babic (OM), 6-7, 6-1 (7)
Lakat (MSU) def. Lindmark (OM), 7-5, 1-6 (7)
Busch (LSU) def. Dromsky (UT), 6-4, 6-4
Jones (UT) def. Cruz (MSU), 7-6 (5), 4-6 (5)
Day 4 Pairings – UF Only
SINGLES
Semifinals
Diego Hidalgo (UF) vs. Maxx Lipman (UF)
Elliott Orkin (UF) vs. Gordon Watson (UF)
Basic Information
· 2014 SEC Fall Classic
· Scott Linder Stadium at Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, Fla.
· FREE Admission
· FREE parking available at the Levin College of Law lot next to the Ring Tennis Complex
Teams with Athletes Competing
· Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
Daily Schedule of Events
Monday, September 22nd
9 a.m. – Singles Semifinals
TBA – Singles Final
Follow the Gators:
