Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Alfred A. Ring Complex saw its first action of the year, as qualifying singles action at the ITA Southeast Regional Championships came to an end on Monday, seeing seven players move into the main singles draw. One match remains to be played on Friday, in completing the eighth singles qualifier, as the Gators' Greysen Cacciatore picked up a second round win, though, he would unfortunately fall in a three-set nail-biter in the final round.
 
Cacciatore would receive a first round bye in the qualifying singles draw prior to picking up a decisive win in straight sets over Mercer's Carver Arant, 6-3, 6-2. Cacciatore would then meet FGCU's Feliksas Sakalauskas in the final round, who slid by Georgia Southern's Diego Finkelstein in three sets.
 
Sakalauskas proved to be a challenge, as he would force another three-set match with Cacciatore in the final round to pave his way into Friday's main draw.
 
Cacciatore would take the early advantage, taking the first set (6-4) over Sakalauskas to start. Sakalauskas answered in the second set with a solid effort, dropping Cacciatore, 6-3, to force a third set. With both players fighting to stay alive and notch main draw appearances, the two would trade blows in eventually forcing a tiebreak finish to be the decider. Cacciatore battled hard, however, Sakalauskas would manage to prevail, 7-6 (3), to earn a spot in Friday's main singles draw.
 
Despite the loss, Cacciatore will feature in Friday's main doubles draw, alongside freshman Blaise Bicknell, as the rest of the Gators will compete in both doubles and main draw singles competition. Cacciatore and Bicknell will take the court first for the Gators in the first round of doubles action, facing Mercer's Carver Arant and Oliver Stuart, while the rest await second round opponents with first round byes.
 
UP NEXT:

• Friday's competition will begin with two rounds of doubles, beginning at 8:30 a.m., followed by the final qualifying singles matchup and main draw singles action. The day will then conclude with qualifying singles consolations.