GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida men's tennis team concluded their 2018 regular season on Friday, while also sending their three seniors out as victors. The Gators earned their second consecutive shutout with a 7-0 win over Alabama on Senior Day.
 
In doubles, the Gators were led by the fifth-ranked duo in the country, Alfredo Perez, and Johannes Ingildsen. The two All-Americans earned the first win of the day for Florida with an easy 6-2 victory on court one. On courts, two and three nothing seemed to go the Gators way as both courts fell into large holes.
 
The 16th ranked pair of Oliver Crawford and Chase Perez-Blanco looked as though they were going to surrender their first match in nearly a month when they trailed 5-2 and 15-40. With their backs against the wall, the two did what they do best, came from behind. The duo won five straight points to complete the comeback and win the doubles point for Florida.
 
In singles, the Gators start slow on a few courts and fast on others. With momentum from doubles, Crawford blitzed his opponent by a score of 6-, 6-0 to win the team's second point of the evening and earn his SEC-leading 11th win of the season. The third point for the Gators came from court three and Perez. Early in set one Perez trailed 4-1 but found a groove and scored five straight points to take the set. With a large comeback in set one, Perez finished off his opponent in set two, 6-4. The Gators clinching point came on court one as Ingildsen won by scores of 6-4, 0-6, 6-3.
 
Playing next to each other on courts four and six were seniors Perez-Blanco and Jordan Belga. Both were in battles of their own but each was feeding off the encouragement from their teammates. Perez-Blanco fell in set one 2-6 but came away with 7-6, 10-7 victories in set two and the 10-point tiebreak. Belga was able to win in two sets but he got Riccardo Roberto's best effort. In set one Belga was able to earn the narrow victory by a score of 7-6 before using the energy of all his teammates to take set tow 7-5. The final win of the evening came on court five as Andy Andrade earned a 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 win on court five.
 
Quoting Coach Shelton
On the excitement that the team had for their senior teammate's victories
"It's special. To get a reaction like that and for our guys to be so engaged in what the seniors were doing on the court and trying to pull them through tonight was special. The guys really rallied behind them and helped pull them through to the end."
 
On Joshua Wardell's impact on the team even though he hasn't been able to play
"He is a real success story. When he came in as a freshman he struggled, but he just kept working and working and changed somethings and ended up becoming one of our best students. He worked and worked and left it all out on the court every single time. I couldn't be more proud of Josh of the person that he is and for what he has given to this team. He has brought a work either that is special and an attitude that is always positive. No matter what the situation is, Josh always treats everything with respect and does it the right way."
 
On the team playing some of their best team tennis of the season
"It's huge to have these types of wins. It wasn't that we played our best overall tennis tonight. We practiced unbelievably well this week but our level wasn't quite as good tonight. However we were gritty, we were tougher and willing to do the things we needed to do in order to be successful. We were patient and hung around long enough until we found our better stuff and that's a great sign for this team. It gives me confidence that we are starting to get to where we need to be as postseason play begins.
 
Quoting Perez-Blanco
On the come from behind win in doubles
"We just picked up our energy. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves and have been in that situation before so we knew what we needed to do in order to get it done.
 
On the emotions as he closed out his regular season at The Ring
"It went really quick, these last four years. I have loved every minute of it and wouldn't change anything that I've done but definitely wish I could do it again.
 
On team rallying behind him and Jordan late in the match
"It was awesome. These guys are my best friends, they are family, and I love each and every one of them and I know Jordan feels the same way. It was awesome, especially with how we both finished tonight.
 
Gator Notables
• Florida improved to 38-20 all-time against Alabama
• This was the Gators 11 consecutive win over Alabama
• The Gators was shut out two straight opponents
• Florida clinches the No. 3 seed in the SEC Tournament as well as a bye into the quarterfinals which will begin Friday, April 27
• The Gators improved their home record to 9-1
• Chase Perez-Blanco and Crawford have won six straight doubles matches
• Perez-Blanco has 91 career singles wins and is three away from ninth on the all-time list. He also has 180 career wins in both singles and doubles which ranks eighth all-time. He is one win away from moving into a tie for sixth all-time with Elliott Orkin and Greg Ouellette
• The Gators are now 14-1 when winning the doubles point
• Andy Andrade earned his 25th singles win of the year
• Perez earned his 25th career SEC singles win
 
Records: 
No. 10 Florida: 15-8, 9-3 SEC
Alabama: 16-10, 2-9 SEC
 
Match Results
Doubles
(1) #5 Perez/Ingildsen (UF) def. #51 Edson Ortiz / Mazen Osama (BAMA) – 6-2
(2) #44 Kessler/Vale (UF) vs Thibault Cancel / Alexey Nesterov (BAMA) – DNF, 5-6
(3) #12 Perez-Blanco/Crawford (UF) def. Patrick Kaukovalta / Riccardo Roberto (BAMA) – 7-5
Florida won Doubles Point
Order of Finish: 1, 3
Singles
(1) #23 Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. #26 Mazen Osama (BAMA) – 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 *
(2) #47 Oliver Crawford (UF) def. Thibault Cancel (BAMA) – 6-3, 6-0
(3) #12 Alfredo Perez (UF) def. Patrick Kaukovalta (BAMA) – 6-4, 6-4
(4) Chase Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Edson Ortiz (BAMA) – 2-6, 7-6, 10-7
(5) Andy Andrade (UF) def. Alexey Nesterov (BAMA) – 6-7, 6-2, 6-2
(6) Jordan Belga (UF) def. Riccardo Roberto (BAMA) – 7-6, 7-5
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1*, 4, 6, 5
*Clincher
 
Up Next
The Gators concluded their 2018 regular season on Friday. With the win Florida clinched the No. 3 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament as well as a bye into the quarterfinals. The Gators next match will be on Friday, April 27 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The time and opponent will be released at a later date.
 
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