Florida Gators
USTA/ITA Regional Championships-Day Four
Hidalgo Advances to Final of Singles Main Draw in USTA/ITA Regional Championships
Sunday, October 18, 2015 | Men's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Florida men's tennis team advanced competitors into the late rounds of the singles and doubles draws at the USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championships on Sunday. Two rounds of doubles and the final round of singles await the Gators on Monday.
Senior Diego Hidalgo had a stellar day at the Ring Tennis Complex sweeping his competitors in three different matches-two singles and one doubles contest. The Gator started the day with a three-set victory over Georgia Tech's Eubanks, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the semifinals. In an all-Gator quarterfinal matchup sophomore Chase Perez-Blanco was able to edge Maxx Lipman, 6-2, 6-4. Elliott Orkin defeated Georgia's Smith in a match that was back and forth, only to end with a default in the third set, 3-6, 6-4, 2-0, def.
The singles semifinal saw another all-UF matchup with Hidalgo and Perez-Blanco facing off for a spot in the singles final. The senior was able to get the win over Perez-Blanco, 6-2, 6-1. No. 1-seed Cid from USF took down another Gator in junior Orkin in a hard fought match that just did not go the Gator's way, 7-6, 6-2. Cid will now face his fourth Gator of the tournament in senior Hidalgo for the singles title.
In doubles action, Hidalgo and Gordon Watson were again victorious in the doubles draw. The Gator tandem defeated Eubanks and Rakitt of Georgia Tech, 8-5. The senior will now face the No. 1-ranked doubles team in the nation in Georgia's Wagland and Smith. The top-25 matchup will be for a chance to play in the doubles final.
Sunday Results
Singles-Main Draw Semifinals
Cid (USF) def. Orkin (UF), 7-6, 6-2
Hidalgo (UF) def. Perez-Blanco (UF), 6-2. 6-1
Singles-Main Draw Quarterfinals
Orkin (UF) def. Smith (UGA), 3-6, 6-4, 2-0, def.
Hidalgo (UF) def. Eubanks (Georgia Tech), 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Lipman (UF), 6-2, 6-4
Doubles-Main Draw Quarterfinals
Hidalgo/Watson (UF) def. Eubanks/Rakitt (Georgia Tech), 8-5
Monday-Match Ups
Singles-Main Draw Final
Cid (USF) vs. Hidalgo (UF)
Doubles-Main Draw Semifinals
Wagland/Smith (UGA) vs. Hidalgo/Watson (UF)
Schedule of Play: Sunday
9:00 a.m. Back Draw Final
9:00 a.m. Main Draw Singles Final
9:00 a.m. Doubles Main Draw Semifinal (UNF vs. Georgia Tech)
NB 11:30 Doubles Main Draw Semifinal (Florida vs. Georgia)
FB Doubles Final
USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championship-Day Four Results
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