TULSA, Okla. – The men's singles finals at the ITA All-American Championships on Sunday night lived up to the hype that surrounded the rematch of last year's NCAA Final Four No. 2 singles matchup between
Sam Riffice and Texas' Yuya Ito. With the match televised in primetime on ESPNU, the two certainly didn't disappoint, though, Riffice would come up just short in the finals in a fiercely competitive 6-4, 6-4 finish in Ito's favor. Despite the loss, the Gators depart Tulsa with a consolation doubles title, as Riffice and
Oliver Crawford rallied to notch a finals win over Georgia's Blake Croyder and Phillip Henning to claim their second of the fall slate.
The final day of competition at the ITA All-American Championships at the Michael D. Case Center began with doubles finals action, as the Gators featured in the consolation doubles finals after rattling off three straight wins upon an early departure from the main doubles draw.
Riffice and Oliver Crawford after Sunday's 6-4, 6-3 victory in the consolation doubles finals.
The Bulldogs' duo competed hard from the jump, however, No. 49 Riffice and Crawford proved too much to handle together, ultimately coming out on top in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. The win served as the pair's fourth consecutive through the latter half of the week and makes for their second doubles titles this fall after claiming the main doubles crown at the Texas Tamale Co. Houston Cup.
Riffice and Texas' Ito pay respect to each other after a battle in the ITA All-Americans men's singles finals.
The women's and men's singles finale would then highlight the evening, as spectators awaited the highly anticipated matchup between No. 10
Sam Riffice and No. 4 Yuya Ito. Though Ito handled Riffice when they last met in a decisive 6-2, 6-2 effort, it wouldn't be the case this time as Riffice would give the Longhorn a battle despite coming away in straight sets.
Ito would jump out to an early lead over Riffice, earning two breaks to hold a 4-1 advantage at the start of the first set, however, Riffice then answered with two straight games to close the gap, 4-3. The two split the following two games before Ito would manage to fight off Riffice, 6-4, to pull away in the first set.
Riffice came out in the second set firing, working Ito with sharp ball placement to take a convincing 3-0 lead early on, though, Ito would claw back in a series of closely contested games to deadlock the score, 3-3, halfway through the second set. After Riffice took the next game to hold the lead (4-3), the two would engage in a series of long rallies, as Ito's active defense led to several miscues for Riffice in reclaiming a 5-4 lead in the second set. With the title in Ito's reach, the Longhorn wouldn't hold back as he went on to finish Riffice, 6-4, to claim the ITA All-American Championships singles crown.
Sam Riffice, ITA Chief Executive Officer Timothy Russell and Texas' Yuya Ito after Sunday's championship match.
The loss cuts Riffice's five-match win streak, though, it serves as just his second of the fall with a 6-2 record thus far in competition. Additionally, five of his six wins come against opponents ranked in the ITA Preseason National rankings.
UP NEXT:
- The Gators return to the competition on Thursday, Oct. 24-28, as Florida will host the ITA Southeast Regional Championships on campus at the Alfred A. Ring Complex.
