Florida Gators

ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida men's tennis' Axel Nefve dropped in a heartbreaker in the NCAA Singles Championship, but ended the day on a high note with partner Will Grant in the NCAA Doubles Championship on Wednesday night at the USTA National Campus.
 
To start the day, No. 32 Nefve squared up with No. 9 Chris Rodesch from Virginia in singles. Nefve never trailed in the opening set, grabbing a one break lead to go up 3-1 and improved his advantage to two breaks at 5-1. Rodesch wouldn't go down easy though, as the Cavalier pushed the graduate student to four more games. The big lefty Gator pushed through and broke for the 6-4 first frame, as Rodesch's backhand went long and wide on the final point.
 
In the second set, Nefve fell behind a break and found himself down 3-2. The Delray Beach, Fla. native couldn't recover from being one break down, dropping 6-4, and Nefve went to a third-set for the third consecutive match at the tournament.
 
Similar to the first set, Nefve dominated four of the five opening games in the third frame and took charge 4-1. Yet, Rodesch continued to prove he's a tough out. Nefve dropped the final five games and bowed out 6-4.
 
Nefve's advanced to the round of 16 for the first time in his career, after reached the round of 32 the past two years at Notre Dame. He finishes with a 95-53 record in singles, while ending the season 23-16 overall and earning nine ranked-victories.
 
Weather continued to be an issue at the tournament and Grant/Nefve were delayed three hours from the original 4 p.m. start time, while being moved indoors for the round of 32 match against No. 13 Stefan Dostanic/Bradley Frye of USC.
 
Dostanic/Frye were a familiar foe for Grant/Nefve, as the pairs faced each other in the SEC/Pac-12 Challenge at the USTA National Campus on Feb. 4. Grant/Nefve got the best of Dostanic/Frye 6-3 first time around.
 
Both sides held serve through the first seven games and the Florida pair was down 4-3. Dostanic/Frye utilized just one break on two opportunities for the 5-3 lead and served out the set 6-3.
 
The trend continued in the following set, as Grant/Nefve and Dostanic/Frye were on-serve through the first 11 games. Leading 6-5, Grant/Nefve capitalized on their fourth break point opportunity in the frame up 40-15. Nefve jumped on Frye's second serve getting around the ball for a forehand and ripped the return right past Dostanic for the set point winner.
 
In lieu of a deciding third set, a 10-point match tiebreaker was played. The breaker was on-serve through the opening nine points and Grant/Nefve led 5-4. Ready for the chance to strike, Grant/Nefve earned their first mini-break and extended their lead to 6-4. The pressure was on for Dostanic/Frye and the Trojans followed with a double fault. Full speed ahead the Gators went, sealing the victory 10-4 by snatching the final three points.
 
The Gators tandem improves to 16-11 in overall doubles and 11-6 against ranked-foes, while snapping a three-match losing streak. Next up in the round of 16 will be No. 16 Andrew Lutschaunig/James Trotter from Ohio State at noon ET tomorrow, May 25.
 
NCAA Doubles Championships | Round of 32
No. 5 Will Grant/Axel Nefve def. No. 13 Stefan Dostanic/Bradley Frye (USC), 3-6, 7-5 [10-4]
 
NCAA Singles Championships | Round of 16
No. 9 Chris Rodesch (Virginia) def. No. 32 Axel Nefve (UF), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
 
NCAA Singles Championships | Round of 32
No. 32 Axel Nefve (UF) def. No. 40 Jonas Ziverts (Arizona), 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3
 
NCAA Singles Championships | Round of 64
No. 32 Axel Nefve (UF) def. No. 7 Antoine Cornut-Chauvinc (FSU), 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
 
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