To kick off Southeastern Conference play, two rivals faced off: No. 15 Florida and No. 30 Auburn.
After a controlling start in doubles, Auburn (8-1) caused chaos for Florida (6-4) the rest of the match. With only two 7-6 first-set victories, the Gators could not find an answer, as the Tigers defeated the Gators 6-1.
Facing a doubles conquest, the Gators relied on their singles advantage, but it did not come.
It seemed that only junior Kevin Edengren, senior Pablo Perez Ramos and senior Tanapatt Nirudorn could stay active, and that was not enough.
The dual match started off with a competitive battle of the ranks. UF’s No. 89 doubles pairing, junior Henry Jefferson and senior Lorenzo Claverie, took on Auburn’s No. 20 senior junior duo, Billy and Freddy Blaydes. After the Gators took the first step ahead, the brothers bounced back and defeated them in a dramatic 7-6 (7-4) win.
Coming off a three-game doubles win streak, Edengren and freshman Andreas Timini took control early and won their doubles match, extending their win streak to 4-0.
Timini favored up close and personal by the net to slam down returns and Edengren played at the baseline, ensuring balls wouldn't get passed him, even resorting to going airborne for a return. Whatever the play style required, the pairing switched it up and got the job done, winning 6-3.
Ramos and Nirundorn started off slow and fell behind early, losing 6-4, allowing the Tigers to secure the doubles point.
Only three UF players had a chance at winning their singles matches, and only one was successful: Edengren.Winning the first set with a clinching 7-6 show, Auburn freshman Alan Bojarski matched Edengren with a 6-4 second-set win. A third set tiebreaker was won by Edengren, who scored Florida’s only point of the day.
Ramos was the first to clutch a 7-6 first-set win, but his opponent refused to be outdone again. He fell 6-1, 6-2 in the next two sets
Nirundorn was bested 6-2 but quickly responded with a 7-6 win in the middle set. The dual match ended as he lost his final tiebreaker set.
The other half of the team was shut out in both sets.
Claverie was cold the whole afternoon, being the first Gator eliminated from the match, losing 6-3 twice. Timini was off, losing 6-3 both times to No. 84 freshman Manel Lazaro. Jefferson followed, as he was bested 6-4, 6-3, snapping his four-match singles win streak.
UF looks to bounce back as it continues its SEC play on the road against Georgia (7-1) on Monday in Athens, Georgia, at 1 p.m.
Contact Ethan Feinberg at efeinberg@alligator.org. Follow him on X @thefeinline.
Ethan Feinberg is a senior sports journalism student and the Spring 2026 men’s tennis reporter. He has previously written stories and produced audio sessions for WRUF, covering high school football. Ethan enjoys watching and playing sports like football and basketball, working out, fishing, cooking, and having a good laugh with his friends and family. His favorite sports teams are the New England Patriots, Miami Heat, Florida Panthers, and the Miami Marlins. (Drake "Drake Maye" Maye is the GOAT.)
