Wake Forest University
Florida
Deacs Edged by Gators in Top-10 Showdown
3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMTen)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The top-ranked Wake Forest men's tennis team suffered its second defeat of the season, falling to No. 10 Florida Friday afternoon at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex by a 4-3 margin.
The Demon Deacons (15-2) were narrowly edged in the doubles point by the visiting Gators (14-5), as it was decided by a tiebreaker that went to extra points. Skander Mansouri and Ian Dempster started off doubles play in emphatic fashion, as the duo topped the top-ranked doubles team of Alfredo Perez and Johannes Ingildsen, 6-3, at the No. 1 doubles position.
After Florida claimed a 6-2 decision at the No. 3 spot, the doubles point came down to a tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles. Both teams would have a handful of set points, but Florida eventually claimed the tiebreaker, 11-9, to give the Gators a 1-0 lead heading into singles.
Florida quickly extended the lead to 2-0 with a win at No. 6 before Wake Forest responded with back-to-back wins to even the match. Borna Gojo, ranked 29th nationally, upset 11th-seeded Johannes Ingildsen in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 2 spot. Bar Botzer followed moments later with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at the No. 4 position.
The Deacs were unable to hold the momentum, as Florida claimed the next two courts to clinch the match at 4-2.
The remaining match was a top-10 showdown as the seventh-ranked Chrysochos faced Alfredo Perez, ranked eighth nationally. Chrysochos took the first set, 6-4, before the second set went to a tiebreaker. After fighting off a match point, Chrysochos prevailed, 8-6, to close out the match.
Chrysochos has now won 11 consecutive matches, with all 11 victories coming in straight sets and eight coming against ranked opponents.
Wake Forest returns to action on Sunday, April 1, as No. 25 Notre Dame comes to town. First serve is set for 12 p.m.
#10 Florida 4, #1 Wake Forest 3
Singles Results
1. #7 Petros Chrysochos (WF) def. #8 Alfredo Perez (UF), 6-4, 7-6(6)
2. #29 Borna Gojo (WF) def. #11 Johannes Ingildsen (UF), 6-2, 6-2
3. #51 Oliver Crawford (UF) def. #30 Skander Mansouri (WF), 7-5, 6-1
4. Bar Botzer (WF) def. Chase Perez-Blanco (UF), 6-3, 6-2
5. #87 Duarte Vale (UF) def. Julian Zlobinsky (WF), 6-4, 6-4
6. McClain Kessler (UF) def. #95 Yuval Solomon (WF), 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6,2,4,5,3,1
Doubles Results
1. Mansouri/Dempster (WF) def. #1 Perez/Ingildsen (UF), 6-3
2. #32 Vale/Kessler (UF) def. Chrysochos/Botzer (WF), 7-6(9)
3. #8 Crawford/Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Gojo/Gadjiev (WF), 6-2
Order of Finish: 1,3,2
Players Mentioned
