Thursday, October 5
Tulsa, OK
Florida Gators
vs
ITA All-American (Main Draw)
Alfredo Perez and Johannes Ingildsen win the most prestigious doubles championship of the fall season
Perez and Ingildsen win ITA All-American Doubles Championship
Monday, October 9, 2017 | Men's Tennis
TULSA, Okla. – In one of falls most prestigious events. Amidst the best collection of tennis talent in the nation, two Florida Gators reigned supreme at the 2017 Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American Championship in Tulsa, Okla.
The No. 4 seeded Gator duo of Alfredo Perez and Johannes Ingildsen met the No. 3 seed of William Blumberg and Robert Kelly of North Carolina in the finals of the ITA Doubles Championship on Monday.
In the opening set, Perez and Ingildsen looked to be on a mission as they jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead over Blumberg and Kelly. As the set progressed UNC battled back to take their first lead at 5-4. After Florida tied it at five, Perez hits a beautiful backhand to give the Gators a 6-5 advantage. UNC would tie it at six to force a tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, neither team could really take advantage of the set, as the two duos traded points until UNC took a 6-4 lead. The Gators didn't trail for long though, battling to make it six all. After switching sides the Gators locked in to win the final two points of the tiebreak and win the crucial first set.
In the second set Blumberg and Kelly struck first but after Perez and Ingildsen tied it at one, the duos traded points to a 3-3 tie. UNC wasn't going to fall in straight-sets though, winning the final three points to take the second set 6-3.
The tiebreak set was no different from the first two sets, with neither team being able to run away with a lead. The Gators and Tar Heels traded points most of the way until a surge from Perez and Ingildsen made it 8-4. After UNC made it 8-6, Perez and Ingildsen were finally able to close the door on the match, winning two of the next three points to make it 10-7 Florida and seal the doubles victory.
"It felt very good to be able to win this tournament with joe," Alfredo Perez said. "I think we played well and smart the whole way through the tournament. Today was a great match and we knew we had to play some great tennis because Kelly and Blumberg very good doubles player."
"It was a great experience to win this tournament," Johannes Ingildsen said. "There were so many tough teams and we just proved that we are one of toughest teams in college. I have a lot of confidence in Alfredo on the court and we believe in ourselves in the big moments. Hopefully we can use the confidence from this win throughout the season and just keep improving."
In the consolation finals, Ingildsen took on Valentine Vacherot of Texas A&M. Ingildsen was rolling from the get-go taking the first set 6-3. In the second set, Ingildsen did not let up on the intensity as he was able to close out the set by a score of 6-3 and earn the ITA All-American Championship Consolation Title.
Main Draw
Doubles
Finals
(4) Perez/Ingildsen def. (3) Blumberg/Kelly – 7-6(6), 3-6, 10-7
Consolation Singles
Finals
Ingildsen def. Vacherot – 6-4, 6-4
Coach Shelton on the Doubles Final
"Could not be more proud of our guys today and all week. Joe and Freddy were so good today. They raised the level of their play in the tie breakers again against a very strong team in Kelly and Blumberg from UNC. This tournament is very prestigious and I'm so happy with how our team represented the Gator Nation. Loved the way we finished."
Coach Shelton on the Consolation Final
"Joe was tough again in his singles match. He did not serve his best today, but he continued to compete at a very high level against another tough opponent. So proud of the improvements he has made in just over one year. His mentality is one of an absolute warrior."
Up Next
The Gators will return the court Friday, Oct. 13 when they compete in the 2017 United State Tennis Association/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Championship in Atlanta, Ga. The tournament will run from Oct. 13-17.
The No. 4 seeded Gator duo of Alfredo Perez and Johannes Ingildsen met the No. 3 seed of William Blumberg and Robert Kelly of North Carolina in the finals of the ITA Doubles Championship on Monday.
In the opening set, Perez and Ingildsen looked to be on a mission as they jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead over Blumberg and Kelly. As the set progressed UNC battled back to take their first lead at 5-4. After Florida tied it at five, Perez hits a beautiful backhand to give the Gators a 6-5 advantage. UNC would tie it at six to force a tiebreak.
In the tiebreak, neither team could really take advantage of the set, as the two duos traded points until UNC took a 6-4 lead. The Gators didn't trail for long though, battling to make it six all. After switching sides the Gators locked in to win the final two points of the tiebreak and win the crucial first set.
In the second set Blumberg and Kelly struck first but after Perez and Ingildsen tied it at one, the duos traded points to a 3-3 tie. UNC wasn't going to fall in straight-sets though, winning the final three points to take the second set 6-3.
The tiebreak set was no different from the first two sets, with neither team being able to run away with a lead. The Gators and Tar Heels traded points most of the way until a surge from Perez and Ingildsen made it 8-4. After UNC made it 8-6, Perez and Ingildsen were finally able to close the door on the match, winning two of the next three points to make it 10-7 Florida and seal the doubles victory.
"It felt very good to be able to win this tournament with joe," Alfredo Perez said. "I think we played well and smart the whole way through the tournament. Today was a great match and we knew we had to play some great tennis because Kelly and Blumberg very good doubles player."
"It was a great experience to win this tournament," Johannes Ingildsen said. "There were so many tough teams and we just proved that we are one of toughest teams in college. I have a lot of confidence in Alfredo on the court and we believe in ourselves in the big moments. Hopefully we can use the confidence from this win throughout the season and just keep improving."
GATORS WIN! The Doubles team of Perez & Ingildsen are your 2017 @ITA_Tennis All-American Championship Doubles Champions!#GoGators #TulsaITA pic.twitter.com/ykWAuuEVsm
— Gators Men's Tennis (@GatorsMTN) October 9, 2017
A few ?? from @alfredoperez997 and @ingildsen2 doubles championship at the @ITA_Tennis
— Gators Men's Tennis (@GatorsMTN) October 9, 2017
All-American #GoGators #TulsaITA #ITAAllAmerican pic.twitter.com/C7kXIOtjk7
In the consolation finals, Ingildsen took on Valentine Vacherot of Texas A&M. Ingildsen was rolling from the get-go taking the first set 6-3. In the second set, Ingildsen did not let up on the intensity as he was able to close out the set by a score of 6-3 and earn the ITA All-American Championship Consolation Title.
A few ?? from @ingildsen2 consolation finals victory! #GoGators #TulsaITA #ITAAllAmerican pic.twitter.com/TThaLegT2H
— Gators Men's Tennis (@GatorsMTN) October 9, 2017
Main Draw
Doubles
Finals
(4) Perez/Ingildsen def. (3) Blumberg/Kelly – 7-6(6), 3-6, 10-7
Consolation Singles
Finals
Ingildsen def. Vacherot – 6-4, 6-4
Coach Shelton on the Doubles Final
"Could not be more proud of our guys today and all week. Joe and Freddy were so good today. They raised the level of their play in the tie breakers again against a very strong team in Kelly and Blumberg from UNC. This tournament is very prestigious and I'm so happy with how our team represented the Gator Nation. Loved the way we finished."
Coach Shelton on the Consolation Final
"Joe was tough again in his singles match. He did not serve his best today, but he continued to compete at a very high level against another tough opponent. So proud of the improvements he has made in just over one year. His mentality is one of an absolute warrior."
Up Next
The Gators will return the court Friday, Oct. 13 when they compete in the 2017 United State Tennis Association/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Championship in Atlanta, Ga. The tournament will run from Oct. 13-17.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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