Florida Gators

Newport, RI/Cary, NC – The Gators won all three singles matches they played during the final day of action at the prestigious Hall of Fame/ITA Grass Court Invitational, highlighted by senior Anna Danilina capturing the singles title on Sunday.
 
Danilina is ineligible for the USTA wildcard, as the only stipulation was that the winner had to be American to earn the wildcard. Finalist Jessie Aney from North Carolina will earn a wildcard into the qualifying draw of a $25,000 pro circuit event.
 
Danilina, ranked No. 15 in the country, defeated the 22nd-ranked Aney in a three-set thriller, 6-7, 6-1, 10-7.
 
Senior Josie Kuhlman earned third place with an even more dramatic finish, downing Princeton's Katrine Steffensen, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (15-13). Freshman Katie Kubicz rounded out the event with a 7-6, 6-4 win against LSU's Kennan Johnson.

On Saturday, Danilina and Kuhlman paired to win the doubles title.

At the Duke Bonk Invite, senior Brooke Austin dropped a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5) decision to Duke's No. 57-ranked Kaitlyn McCarthy in the championship match.
 
Victoria Emma and Peggy Porter lost their respective matches in Cary to cap the Gator's season-opening events.
 
 
Quotes from the Court
Associate Head Coach Dave Balogh
On the Gators at the Hall of Fame/ITA Grass Court Invitational:
"Anna (Danilina) was terrific all weekend. She has so much variety and her ability to slice and attack the net was incredible and very effective.
 
"Josie (Kuhlman) and Katie (Kubicz) had a good weekend too! I really liked how they all competed, especially at the end of close sets and in several tiebreakers we played.
 
"Overall, a great start to the Fall."
 
 
Gator Senior Anna Danilina
On winning two titles during the season-opening event:
"It was an amazing experience for me. I had a chance to play at one of the most beautiful and famous facilities in the world. It was a great event where I had a chance to compete with many good players, explore and learn about the history of tennis. Playing on grass courts was challenging at first but I had lots of fun playing singles and doubles with Josie and I'm very happy to win and start the year on a positive note."


What's Next for the Gators

• All four seniors – Austin, Danilina, Kuhlman and Porter – will compete in the Riviera ITA All-American Championships held in Pacific Palisades, California, Sept. 30-Oct. 8.
• Danilina and Kuhlman received automatic berths into the singles main draw; Austin is in the prequalifying singles draw; Austin and Porter are in the prequalifying doubles draw
• Prequalifying: Sept. 30-Oct. 1
• Qualifying: Oct. 3-4
• Main Draw: Oct. 5-8
• The event is considered the first leg of the collegiate grand slam.
• Official Website

 
 
About the Hall of Fame/ITA Grass Court Invitational

• Athletes from North Carolina, Princeton and LSU will also compete on the historic grass courts
• Draws & More!
• Official website
• Women's Finals' Highlights - VIDEO
• Women's Highlights (Day 3) - VIDEO
• Women's Highlights (Day 2) - VIDEO
• Women's Highlights (Day 1) - VIDEO

 
Hall of Fame/ITA Grass Court Invitational Order of Play for Sunday, Sept. 17
Kim Clijsters Flight, Singles

• #15 Anna Danilina, UF d. #22 Jessie Aney, UNC 6-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-7) – CHAMPIONSHIP
• #12 Josie Kuhlman, UF d. Katrine Steffensen, Princeton 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (15-13) – third place

Althea Gibson Flight, Singles – Backdraw

• Katie Kubicz, UF d. Kennan Johnson, LSU 7-6, 6-4

 

Saturday, Sept. 16 – Results
Kim Clijsters Flight, Singles - SF

• #15 Anna Danilina, UF d. Katrine Steffensen, Princeton 6-1, 6-2
• #22 Jessie Aney, UNC d. #12 Josie Kuhlman, UF 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)

Althea Gibson Flight, Singles – Backdraw

• Katie Kubicz, UF d. Nicole Kalhorn, Princeton 6-4, 6-4

Navratilova/Shriver Flight, Doubles - Semifinal

• #59 Danilina/Kuhlman, UF d. #12 Jessie Aney/Alexa Graham, UNC w/o

Fernandez/Zvereva Flight, Doubles - Backdraw

• Kononova/Kubicz, North Texas/UF d. Gaby Pollner/Katrine Steffensen, Princeton 8-4

 
Friday, Sept. 15 – Results
Kim Clijsters Flight, Singles - QF

• #15 Anna Danilina, UF d. Jessica Golovin LSU, 6-0, 6-4
• #12 Josie Kuhlman, UF d. #64 Ryann Foster, LSU 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3)

Althea Gibson Flight, Singles - QF

• Eden Richardson, LSU d. Katie Kubicz, UF 6-4, 6-1

Navratilova/Shriver Flight, Doubles - SF

• #59 Danilina/Kuhlman, UF d. Ryann Foster/Jessica Golovin, LSU 8-1

Fernandez/Zvereva Flight, Doubles - SF

• #38 Sara Daavettila/Alle Sanford, UNC d. Kononova/Kubicz, North Texas/UF 8-3

 
 
About the Duke Bonk Invite

• Updated Draws
• Athletes from Duke, Georgia Tech, Northwestern, North Carolina, NC State, Furman, Charlotte, LSU, Elon, Illinois also competed
• With only three Gators competing, one Gator each day will pair with a player from another school in doubles action. There will not be true doubles draws at the event. The results from players from different schools comprising a doubles team do not count toward their official record.

 
 
Duke Bonk Invite Results for Sunday, Sept. 17
Singles

• #57 Kaitlyn McCarthy, Duke d. #93 Brooke Austin, UF 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5) – championship match
• Katty Weymouth, Furman d. Peggy Porter, UF 6-2, 6-2 – third-place consolation
• Maddie Lipp, Northwestern d. Victoria Emma, UF 6-2, 6-2 – third-place

 
Duke Bonk Invite
Saturday, Sept. 16 – Results
Singles

• #93 Brooke Austin, UF d. Ida Jarlskog, Georgia Tech, 6-3, 6-1
• Tai Martin, Charlotte d. Peggy Porter, UF 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2
• Kelly Chen, Duke d. Victoria Emma, UF 6-3, 6-4

Doubles – Rotation 3

• Erin Larner/Maddie Lipp, Northwestern d. Victoria Emma/Peggy Porter, UF 8-2
• Brooke Austin/Nadia Gizdova, Florida/GT d. Maggie Kane/Cassandra Vazquez, UNC 8-6

 
Friday, Sept. 15 – Results
Singles - QF

• #93 Brooke Austin, UF d. Claudia Wiktorin, NC State 6-3, 6-2
• Adriana Reami, NC State d. Peggy Porter, UF 6-2, 6-1
• Victoria Emma, UF d. Daniela Pedraza Novak, Illinois 6-3, 7-6 (6)

Doubles – Rotation 1

• Asuka Kawai/ Daniela Pedraza Novak, Illinois d. Brooke Austin/Peggy Porter, UF 8-5
• Jaclyn Switkes/Mia Rabinowitz, Illinois d. Victoria Emma/Nadia Gizdova, Florida/GT 8-0

Doubles – Rotation 2

• Austin/Porter, UF d. Meible Chi/Kelly Chen, Duke 8-1
• Ema Lazic/Rebecca Smaller, Duke d. Emma/Gizdova, Florida/GT 8-6

 
 
Gator Pronunciations for this release:

• Anna Danilina: ON-nah don-uh-LEE-nah
• Katie Kubicz: CUE-bix
• Josie Kuhlman: COOL-mun

 
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