Gators Advance to NCAA Quarterfinals with SMU Sweep

Friday, May 20

Tulsa, Okla.

1:00 PM

Florida Gators

SMU-Round of 16

Sophomore Chase Perez-Blanco clinched the match for the Florida Gators on Friday afternoon over the SMU Mustangs

Gators Advance to NCAA Quarterfinals with SMU Sweep

Friday, May 20, 2016 | Men's Tennis

By: Grace Duggan

TULSA, Okla. – The University of Florida men's tennis team defeated the SMU Mustangs, 4-0 on Friday afternoon in NCAA Round of 16. Florida advances to the NCAA Quarterfinal round for the first time since the 2005 season.

In doubles action, the Gators needed the final two courts to clinch the doubles point. The No. 1-ranked tandem of Diego Hidalgo and Gordon Watson extended their winning streak to ten matches with a gritty 7-5 win over the No. 31-ranked tandem of Johnson and Johnson on court one. For the second consecutive match, Alfredo Perez and Chase Perez-Blanco clinched the doubles point and extended their own winning streak to seven matches. The duo won on a 7-2 tiebreak to give the Gators an early 1-0 lead.

In singles action, the bottom half of the Florida lineup got it done for the Gators. Senior Watson led the charge and was first off the court with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Yates Johnson on court five. The Naples, Fla. native has now won six matches in a row. Freshman McClain Kessler was next off the court with a win over Tony Russell 6-3, 6-0 on court six. Perez-Blanco would clinch the win for the Gators on court four with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Ronald Slobodchikov on four.

Florida has won eight consecutive matches since the April 8^th. The Orange and Blue will now take on the No. 1 seed Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon. First serve from the Michael D. Case Tennis Center is set for 1 p.m. ET.

Head Coach Bryan Shelton
On the match win today…
"I thought we came out and played well. Hats off to SMU. I thought they had a great season. We knew it would be a tough match in the Round of 16 because everybody at this tournament is so good. I am really proud of our guys even with a little bit of a delay today, I felt like our preparation was great and we came out with a lot of energy. Doubles was as usual pretty crucial for us and I felt like we won two crucial sets out there at one and three and that really set the tone for the rest of the match.

I felt like after the doubles point we came out really strong in the singles. Obviously winning four of the first six sets and we were able to close it out really well. I am really proud of our guys. We played well at four, five and six, winning all of those matches pretty decisively."

Sophomore Chase Perez-Blanco
On his match today and clinching the Gators' victory…
"I thought I played really well. My opponent played well as well. He was really solid off the baseline, so my goal was to make a lot of balls and be aggressive. I think I did a good job of that. Also, I didn't get on the defensive side that much, so I was able to stay in my game and attack and move forward in the court."

Final Results
#9 Florida (No. 9 Seed) 4, #30 SMU (No. 17-32 Seed) 0
Doubles-Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3*

#1 Diego Hidalgo/Gordon Watson (Florida) def. #31 Hunter Johnson/Yates Johnson (SMU), 7-5
2. #54 Nate Lammons/Markus Kerner (SMU) def. #80 Maxx Lipman/Elliott Orkin (Florida), 6-0
3. Alfredo Perez/Chase Perez-Blanco (Florida) def. Samm Butler/Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU), 7-6 (2)

Singles-Order of Finish: 5, 6, 4*