Summer Recap: Gators Accumulate 180 ATP Points in Summer Competitions
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 | Men's Tennis
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators men's tennis team has been hard at work this summer, competing in tournaments across the world ranging from prize money events, Challengers, Futures and ITA tournaments. In the 41 events the Gators have participated in from June 3 to August 16, the team has acquired 180 ATP points in singles and doubles play for their professional rankings, the most of any collegiate team among their returning players. Six different Gators contributed to that total, showcasing the depth of the current roster.
"I'm really proud of the young men in this program and how they continually push to keep getting better," head coach Bryan Shelton said. "I believe it comes from a true love for the game. It is evident they are hungry to compete. Seeing them have success while gaining valuable experience this summer is priceless. We want them to continually be willing to put it on the line and these guys have done that because they love the battle."
The Gators have worked hard this summer to keep up their skills, stay in shape, and in Blaise Bicknell's case, help his home country of Jamaica qualify for the 2022 World Group II Play-offs. After going 32-0 in singles competition during the season, Bicknell recorded another undefeated record of 5-0 at the 2021 Davis Cup tournament in Panama City, Panama. As one of the five players selected to represent his country in the tournament, he posted four wins in pool play, then added another singles victory in the Group III Play-offs to clinch Jamaica's qualifying bid to the 2022 Group II Play-offs.
More undefeated heroics came from Will Grant, who went 6-0 at the PTT Dallas Men's 25K tournament in the first week of August. Grant also accumulated a 12-2 overall sets record after winning four matches in straight sets.
One of two incoming freshmen additions to the Gators program, Abedallah Shelbayh, had a historic summer after becoming the first player from Jordan to compete at Junior Wimbledon. Not only did he make history, but both him and his doubles partner, Daniel Rincon, made it all the way to the doubles finals at the junior grand slam event before falling to Edas Butvilas and Alejandro Manzanera, 3-6, 4-6. The pairing also won the doubles title at the J1 Roehampton tournament where they beat Samir Banerjee and Max Westphal, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 12-10.
Incoming graduate transfer, Mattias Siimar, put in some work this summer as he and doubles partner, Vladimir Ivanov, won the doubles competition at the Estonian Men's Championships and made it to the doubles semifinals at the M15 Parnu tournament. Not only did Siimar get to the semifinals in the M15 Parnu, but he also made a singles finals appearance and earned the runner-up spot at the event.
"I believe Mattias will bring a wealth of experience and maturity to our team," Coach Shelton said. "He knows the importance of working hard both in the classroom and on the court. Mattias is an excellent tennis player and an incredible human being. He will only add to our team culture and his tennis will speak for itself. Abedallah will add youth to a team with a lot of veterans. Both Abedallah and Nate Bonetto are the future of our program, and blessed with so many physical gifts. Our job is to help them maximize those gifts and help them mature and move towards their potential, which is extraordinary!"
Lukas Greif was able to earn himself a qualifying wild card spot in the ITA All-American Championships set to take place in October. Greif went into the 2021 ITA National Summer Championships as the No. 8-seed, and played his way through some tough competition to get to the finals, where he claimed the runner-up spot.
The NCAA Singles National Champion continued his dominance after appearing in back-to-back tournament semifinal appearances at the Orlando Challenger 80 and M25 Tulsa tournaments and collecting a couple of wins over Top-100 ATP players. Sam Riffice went 6-2 over the two tournaments as he won in straight sets in all three victories at the Orlando Challenger, including a 6-4, 6-4, win over top-100 player, Paolo Lorenzi. At the M25 Tulsa tournament, he defeated top-100 player, Jason Kubler, 6-1, 6-4, in the second round of play.
Gators captain Duarte Vale played in his first ever Challenger event (Porto Challenger 80) this summer and also appeared in the semifinals in the M15 Almada tournament after winning three matches in two sets. Vale tallied five singles wins over both the M15 Almada and the M15 Castelo Branco tournaments, while also picking up a couple of doubles victories.
Ben Shelton put together an impressive summer slate after sweeping the singles and doubles competition at the M25 Champaign tournament in late July without ever dropping a set, then winning the doubles title and advancing to the singles finals at the USTA Boys 18 and 16 National Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan. By getting to the finals at Zoo Nationals, Shelton will now join Riffice in earning a bid into the U.S. Open Men's Tennis Championships. He also advanced to the doubles semifinals at the Cary Challenger 80 after picking up three wins in the event.
"I believe our guys will hit the ground running this fall as they are in great shape and are battle tested," Coach Shelton said. "Tennis is a sport that demands so much in order to become great, and I'm glad our guys get the big picture and aren't looking for shortcuts. It will serve them well throughout this upcoming season."
"I'm really proud of the young men in this program and how they continually push to keep getting better," head coach Bryan Shelton said. "I believe it comes from a true love for the game. It is evident they are hungry to compete. Seeing them have success while gaining valuable experience this summer is priceless. We want them to continually be willing to put it on the line and these guys have done that because they love the battle."
The Gators have worked hard this summer to keep up their skills, stay in shape, and in Blaise Bicknell's case, help his home country of Jamaica qualify for the 2022 World Group II Play-offs. After going 32-0 in singles competition during the season, Bicknell recorded another undefeated record of 5-0 at the 2021 Davis Cup tournament in Panama City, Panama. As one of the five players selected to represent his country in the tournament, he posted four wins in pool play, then added another singles victory in the Group III Play-offs to clinch Jamaica's qualifying bid to the 2022 Group II Play-offs.
More undefeated heroics came from Will Grant, who went 6-0 at the PTT Dallas Men's 25K tournament in the first week of August. Grant also accumulated a 12-2 overall sets record after winning four matches in straight sets.
One of two incoming freshmen additions to the Gators program, Abedallah Shelbayh, had a historic summer after becoming the first player from Jordan to compete at Junior Wimbledon. Not only did he make history, but both him and his doubles partner, Daniel Rincon, made it all the way to the doubles finals at the junior grand slam event before falling to Edas Butvilas and Alejandro Manzanera, 3-6, 4-6. The pairing also won the doubles title at the J1 Roehampton tournament where they beat Samir Banerjee and Max Westphal, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 12-10.
Incoming graduate transfer, Mattias Siimar, put in some work this summer as he and doubles partner, Vladimir Ivanov, won the doubles competition at the Estonian Men's Championships and made it to the doubles semifinals at the M15 Parnu tournament. Not only did Siimar get to the semifinals in the M15 Parnu, but he also made a singles finals appearance and earned the runner-up spot at the event.
"I believe Mattias will bring a wealth of experience and maturity to our team," Coach Shelton said. "He knows the importance of working hard both in the classroom and on the court. Mattias is an excellent tennis player and an incredible human being. He will only add to our team culture and his tennis will speak for itself. Abedallah will add youth to a team with a lot of veterans. Both Abedallah and Nate Bonetto are the future of our program, and blessed with so many physical gifts. Our job is to help them maximize those gifts and help them mature and move towards their potential, which is extraordinary!"
Lukas Greif was able to earn himself a qualifying wild card spot in the ITA All-American Championships set to take place in October. Greif went into the 2021 ITA National Summer Championships as the No. 8-seed, and played his way through some tough competition to get to the finals, where he claimed the runner-up spot.
The NCAA Singles National Champion continued his dominance after appearing in back-to-back tournament semifinal appearances at the Orlando Challenger 80 and M25 Tulsa tournaments and collecting a couple of wins over Top-100 ATP players. Sam Riffice went 6-2 over the two tournaments as he won in straight sets in all three victories at the Orlando Challenger, including a 6-4, 6-4, win over top-100 player, Paolo Lorenzi. At the M25 Tulsa tournament, he defeated top-100 player, Jason Kubler, 6-1, 6-4, in the second round of play.
Gators captain Duarte Vale played in his first ever Challenger event (Porto Challenger 80) this summer and also appeared in the semifinals in the M15 Almada tournament after winning three matches in two sets. Vale tallied five singles wins over both the M15 Almada and the M15 Castelo Branco tournaments, while also picking up a couple of doubles victories.
Ben Shelton put together an impressive summer slate after sweeping the singles and doubles competition at the M25 Champaign tournament in late July without ever dropping a set, then winning the doubles title and advancing to the singles finals at the USTA Boys 18 and 16 National Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan. By getting to the finals at Zoo Nationals, Shelton will now join Riffice in earning a bid into the U.S. Open Men's Tennis Championships. He also advanced to the doubles semifinals at the Cary Challenger 80 after picking up three wins in the event.
"I believe our guys will hit the ground running this fall as they are in great shape and are battle tested," Coach Shelton said. "Tennis is a sport that demands so much in order to become great, and I'm glad our guys get the big picture and aren't looking for shortcuts. It will serve them well throughout this upcoming season."
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