Sunday, February 19
Chicago, IL / XS Tennis Village
10 AM
Florida Gators
4
vs
2
Baylor
Olek Orlikowski clinched the first match win of his career for the Gators in just his third singles match of the season.
No. 16 Florida Fends Off No. 10 Baylor in ITA Indoors Finale
Sunday, February 19, 2023 | Men's Tennis
The Gators ended the ITA National Team Indoor Championship strong with a 4-2 win.
CHICAGO β The No. 16 Florida men's tennis team never trailed against the No. 10 Baylor Bears on the final day of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship and utilized a complete team effort to finish with a 4-2 victory.
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The win over No. 10 Baylor marked Florida's sixth straight Top-20 matchup and snapped a four-match losing streak. This is the second consecutive year the Gators have played six consecutive Top-20 teams after facing seven Top-15 teams in a row during the 2022 season.
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Looking to conquer their first doubles point of the weekend, Florida (5-5, SEC 0-0) utilized a dominant effort on court one and a clutch converted break point on court three to claim the early 1-0 advantage over Baylor (5-8, Big 12 0-0). A doubles play masterclass was on display by Will Grant/Axel Nefve on court one as the Florida duo converted all three of their break points to blow by No. 9 Jake Finn Bass/Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi, 6-1. Grant/Nefve won all three of their doubles matches this weekend and improve to 6-2 at the top position.
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With No. 15 Tanapatt Nirundorn/Togan Tokac dropping their match at court two, the doubles point laid in the hands of No. 52 Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif on court three. Looking to clinch their sixth doubles point of the season, the Gators pair found themselves in a tight battle with Luc Koenig/Ethan Muza. Both pairs held serve up until 6-5 and Braswell/Greif converted one of three break points when they needed it most to take down the Baylor duo, 7-5.
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Nefve tacked on the first singles win for the Florida 2-0 advantage at court one with a straight set victory over No. 117 Tadeas Paroulek. Down 4-3 in the first frame, Nefve responded with three straight games to take the first 6-4 and converted two of three break points to secure the second set 6-3. The win was Nefve's second ranked-win of the season.
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Baylor came back within one by grabbing the victory on court three, but No. 94 Grant answered by closing out a gritty straight set triumph on court two. The junior was tied 5-5 in the first set breaker and held serve twice to snatch the first set 7-6 (5) and converted a break point to complete the victory 7-5 in the second for the third Florida point of the match.
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Once more, Baylor managed to bring themselves to just a one-point deficit with a win on court five. All eyes went to courts four and six for the remaining points, with both matches locked-in three-set thrillers. Olek Orlikowski would prevail as the freshman was able to fend-off Muza and save seven of nine break points for the first match clincher of his career, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
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Florida returns to the court on March 2 at 4 p.m. ET for the SEC-opener on the road at Mississippi State.
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DOUBLES RESULTS
1. Will Grant/Axel Nefve (UF) def. No. 9 Jake Finn Bass/Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi (BU), 6-1
2. Tadeas Paroulek/Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. No. 15 Tanapatt Nirundorn/Togan Tokac (UF), 6-1
3. No. 52 Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif (UF) def. Luc Koenig/Ethan Muza (BU), 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
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SINGLES RESULTS
1. Axel Nefve (UF) def. No. 117 Tadeas Paroulek (BU), 6-4, 6-3
2. No. 94 Will Grant (UF) def. Marko Miladinovic (BU), 7-6 (5), 7-5
3. Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. No. 48 Jonah Braswell (UF), 6-4, 6-3
4. No. 95 Nate Bonetto (UF) vs Luc Koenig (BU), 7-6 (4), 5-7, 4-3, unfinished
5. No. 125 Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi (BU) def. Togan Tokac (UF), 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
6. Olek Orlikowski (UF) def. Ethan Muza (BU), 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 5, 6
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The win over No. 10 Baylor marked Florida's sixth straight Top-20 matchup and snapped a four-match losing streak. This is the second consecutive year the Gators have played six consecutive Top-20 teams after facing seven Top-15 teams in a row during the 2022 season.
Β
Looking to conquer their first doubles point of the weekend, Florida (5-5, SEC 0-0) utilized a dominant effort on court one and a clutch converted break point on court three to claim the early 1-0 advantage over Baylor (5-8, Big 12 0-0). A doubles play masterclass was on display by Will Grant/Axel Nefve on court one as the Florida duo converted all three of their break points to blow by No. 9 Jake Finn Bass/Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi, 6-1. Grant/Nefve won all three of their doubles matches this weekend and improve to 6-2 at the top position.
Β
With No. 15 Tanapatt Nirundorn/Togan Tokac dropping their match at court two, the doubles point laid in the hands of No. 52 Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif on court three. Looking to clinch their sixth doubles point of the season, the Gators pair found themselves in a tight battle with Luc Koenig/Ethan Muza. Both pairs held serve up until 6-5 and Braswell/Greif converted one of three break points when they needed it most to take down the Baylor duo, 7-5.
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Nefve tacked on the first singles win for the Florida 2-0 advantage at court one with a straight set victory over No. 117 Tadeas Paroulek. Down 4-3 in the first frame, Nefve responded with three straight games to take the first 6-4 and converted two of three break points to secure the second set 6-3. The win was Nefve's second ranked-win of the season.
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Baylor came back within one by grabbing the victory on court three, but No. 94 Grant answered by closing out a gritty straight set triumph on court two. The junior was tied 5-5 in the first set breaker and held serve twice to snatch the first set 7-6 (5) and converted a break point to complete the victory 7-5 in the second for the third Florida point of the match.
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Once more, Baylor managed to bring themselves to just a one-point deficit with a win on court five. All eyes went to courts four and six for the remaining points, with both matches locked-in three-set thrillers. Olek Orlikowski would prevail as the freshman was able to fend-off Muza and save seven of nine break points for the first match clincher of his career, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
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Florida returns to the court on March 2 at 4 p.m. ET for the SEC-opener on the road at Mississippi State.
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DOUBLES RESULTS
1. Will Grant/Axel Nefve (UF) def. No. 9 Jake Finn Bass/Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi (BU), 6-1
2. Tadeas Paroulek/Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. No. 15 Tanapatt Nirundorn/Togan Tokac (UF), 6-1
3. No. 52 Jonah Braswell/Lukas Greif (UF) def. Luc Koenig/Ethan Muza (BU), 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
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SINGLES RESULTS
1. Axel Nefve (UF) def. No. 117 Tadeas Paroulek (BU), 6-4, 6-3
2. No. 94 Will Grant (UF) def. Marko Miladinovic (BU), 7-6 (5), 7-5
3. Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. No. 48 Jonah Braswell (UF), 6-4, 6-3
4. No. 95 Nate Bonetto (UF) vs Luc Koenig (BU), 7-6 (4), 5-7, 4-3, unfinished
5. No. 125 Juan Pablo Grassi Mazzuchi (BU) def. Togan Tokac (UF), 1-6, 7-5, 6-3
6. Olek Orlikowski (UF) def. Ethan Muza (BU), 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 5, 6
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Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,3
#1 Singles Match
12
66
Tadeas Paroulek / 0 (117/-) [BU]
43
#2 Singles Match
12
77
Marko Miladinovic / 0 [BU]
65
#3 Singles Match
12
43
Zsombor Velcz / 0 [BU]
66
#4 Singles Match
1234
7540
Luc Koenig / 0 [BU]
673UF
#5 Singles Match
123
653
Juampi Mazzuchi / 0 (125/-) [BU]
176
#6 Singles Match
123
476
Ethan Muza / 0 [BU]
654
Order of Finish:
1,3,2,5,6
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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