Round of 16 today....UF gets smoked 4-1 by UK and falls to 4-4 Doubles was reasonably competitive on all 3 courts, UF wins on 1 but loses at 2 and 3 Singles Nefve gets double bageled by Liam Draxl, ugly Grant was in a war, won a first set TB and lost 2nd set TB 8-6 Braswell beaten badly, not sure I like him at 3 Bonetto was in a match like Grant 7-5, 4-6, 1-1 Tokac continues to impress me, gets UF's lone point 4-6 6-2 6-3 Grief continues to struggle 6-7 3-6 UF clearly need the doubles point and needs someone to step up at 5/6 along with Tokac. Nefve isn't going to win vs the big time guys at 1, not sure Grant will win many at 2 I like the 3/4 combo of Nate and Braswell but would flip them for now
Facing off vs UNC today, who lost yesterday to USC 4-1 We clearly aren't a top 8 team at this point....this is a match you need to stay in the conversation Doubles....win on court 1 but lose on 2 and 3. Need to dig in and play some quality singles today. UNC has a grad sr on courts 1,2 and 4, Sr on 5 and a Jr on 6. They don't lack experience
Got a lot of work to do to salvage this one Nefve 5-7 0-2 Grant 6-3 1-1 Braswell 3-6 (two freshmen facing each other) Nate 4-6 0-2....really struggling to win key points Tokac 5-5 Orlikowski 6-1 3-1 ....the bright spot on a bad day so far
Grant and Orlikowski with quality straight set wins, UF 2-1 for now Nefve goes down 5 and 4, nice battle but we gotta win some of these Braswell up 4-3 but down a set Nate battles back from down a break to lead 6-5, but down a set Tokac 5-7 1-3.....I get excited about him and then he has a rough match. Freshman
Braswell has a pair of sets points but can't convert....5-5 in 2nd Nate wins a TB to force a third, nice comeback in the second Tokac gets a break, serving down 3-4
Tokac and Braswell both lose 2 quick games and their matches. Nate was up 2-0 in this third UNC was tougher and won the crucial points. UF has a lot of work to do if they want a good season.....SEC is tough as ever and we still have a regular season match vs very good TCU. Double digit losses looming
Last chance to salvage the weekend vs Baylor today. Baylor has been blown out in 6 straight matches, last win was a close one vs FSU. They have been swpt in their last 3 matches, including South Carolina yesterday....translation, UF REALLY needs to win this one. Doubles UF wins 6-1 at 1, loses 1-6 at 2, it's 5-5 on 3 (Braswell and Greif)
Guys finally break serve on 3 and win the doubles point 7-5 Same singles lineup as yesterday....early but Grant, Nate, and Tokac up a break, others on serve
Braswell and Orlikoski lose 4-6 in their first sets, Grant trails 5-6, Nate just fought off a break point to get to 5-5
Grant and Nate both win tight TB's, UF wins 4 first sets Nefve up a break in second, everyone else on serve in second.
Nefve first to the finish line....nice match from him. Sure wish we had Shelton back, Nefve would have been so good in the 2 slot. Grant up a break, Braswell down a break, last 3 matches all on serve in second (1-2, 5-6,4-4). Not sure Braswell has won a match since being moved up from 4 to 3
Grant 4-3 up a set Braswell loses again Nate up 4-2, seems to be in control Tokac fall apart and loses 2nd set and already down in 3rd Orli at 5-5, need him to finish here
Grant wins 7-6 7-5 Braswell loses again Nate was up 4-3 in 3rd Tokac fell apart and lost Orli closes his second 7-5 and takes the third 6-4 4-2 UF, a little salvage for the weekend. But they are going to have to pick it up or will be a middle of the road SEC team
I have been with many teams who lost the first two matches at the National Indoors. Most of them mail in Sunday's match and limp home. Our guys did nothing of the sort as they battled to a 4-2 Sunday win against Baylor. This group of guys has played quite a schedule so far this season. They have fought like hell in every match they have played. This is a transition year after three of the greatest seasons in Florida men's tennis history. I have no idea how high this team can be ranked come seasons end. What I am sure of is this year's team understands the legacy the past few teams have handed them. They will lose some more during this season but you can count on them fighting for every team point and no matter the final outcome this is a team anyone who follows college tennis can be very proud of.
No doubt they scrap and fight. My hope is they can improve on performance in crucial situations. Seems they struggle a bit with those key points. And to no surprise the freshmen seem inconsistent even within matches.
The vast majority of this years team are competing in their first year as starters. We have played a brutal schedule so far as this what Coach Shelton likes to do. Play the best and win or lose get better with each match. You will never see a Shelton team padding its schedule with "bunnies". The last six matches we have played top 20 teams. The 2023 version of gator men's tennis is obviously not at the level of the teams we put on the court during the past three years. No doubt this year's team struggles at times in crucial situations. That fact is because they are inexperienced. The point is Coach Shelton is putting them in situations where they have no choice other than to "grow up" during critical times in matches. Will they get better during the SEC schedule which is on the horizon? Yes they will. How much is debatable and the reason matches are played. Remember this team was picked 5th in the tough SEC confereence at the beginning of this season. If they hold that position at the end of the SEC schedule, or edge into the top four conference wise, I would say they will have not only improved but set the foundation for another run at conference and national excellence in years to come.
