GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The No. 3 University of Florida women's tennis team had a strong showing in its first dual match of the season. The Gators defeated the Bulls, 6-1 on Wednesday night at the Ring Tennis Complex.
The dual-match season is new but the Gators continued some dominating doubles play. UF swept the three doubles matches on Wednesday night in the Gators' season opener. The No. 50-ranked Gator duo of
Anna Danilina and
Brianna Morgan swept the USF duo of Vera Bessonova and Juliana Cardosa, 6-0.
Spencer Liang and
Peggy Porter cruised in their match against Nicole Dzenga and Vanja Klaric, 6-2. The No. 5-ranked team of
Brooke Austin and
Kourtney Keegan rounded out the doubles play with a victory over Jessica Chaves and Olga Martinez, 6-4.
Singles action saw the Gators take five matches on Wednesday night. Sophomore Danilina was stellar in her first singles match in the Orange and Blue. In a match that only last 45 minutes, the Gator newcomer defeated Jessica Cardosa, 6-0, 6-1. Fellow-sophomore
Josie Kuhlman grabbed a singles win over Chavez, 6-2, 6-1 and junior Keegan clinched the match victory for the Gators with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Dominguez.
The final three singles matches were played out with Liang defeating Vera Bessonova, 6-2, 7-6(6) and Woolcock muscling through a long match to get the win over Martinez, 7-5, 6-4. Porter fell in a long, hard fought match to Vanja Klaric, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
The Gators travel to FSU next Thursday afternoon to take on the Seminoles at 4:00 p.m.
Coach Thornqvist's ThoughtsOn the play of the Gators today… "I thought we played really well in doubles. I was curious to see if how we looked in practice would be how we came out and played. I think we lost the first game on two of the courts and I think we were close to losing the first game on court two. Then we really turned it around and played great tennis. It looked like we added some power in doubles and that allows us to be a little more aggressive. I was really pleased with the doubles part."
On Anna Danilina's play in singles today… "She was really good. She was outstanding from start to finish. It is interesting because yesterday she told me that she was nervous, but you couldn't see any of that today. She was fantastic from start to finish. If she continues to improve like she has the last couple of months, she is going to be scary come May."
Final Results Florida 6, USF 1 Doubles-Order of Finish: 2, 3*,1#5
Brooke Austin/
Kourtney Keegan (UF) def. Jessica Cortes Chaves/Olga Martinez (USF), 6-4
#50
Anna Danilina/
Brianna Morgan (UF) def. Vera Bessonova/Juliana Cardosa (USF), 6-0
Spencer Liang/
Peggy Porter (UF) def. Nicole Dzenga/Vanja Klaric (USF), 6-2
Singles-Order of Finish: 4, 3, 2*, 5, 6, 1 #3
Belinda Woolcock (UF) def. Olga Martinez (USF), 7-5, 6-4
#25
Kourtney Keegan (UF) def. Ana Roman Dominguez (USF), 6-3, 6-1
#56
Josie Kuhlman (UF) def. Jessica Cortes Chavez (USF), 6-2, 6-1
#110
Anna Danilina (UF) def. Juliana Cardosa (USF), 6-0, 6-1
#73
Spencer Liang (UF) def. Vera Bessonova (USF), 6-2, 7-6(6)
Vanja Klaric (USF) def.
Peggy Porter (UF), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
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