As the Gators looked to close out their six-game home stretch, they looked to end the first half of their doubleheader on a positive note.
Florida’s day started against No. 7 Mississippi State (15-2, 6-1 SEC), a dominant squad coming off a five-game tear.
The Gators looked to end that streak and use fuel from Friday’s sweep of No. 23 Ole Miss to do so.
Florida (8-9, 2-5 SEC) almost got revenge for its first-day loss of the ITA National Indoors, but junior Adhithya Ganesan fell 6-4 in the game-sealing final set. The Bulldogs won four straight singles matches to secure the 4-3 win.
The match started at the Alfred A. Ring Complex, as the Gators continued their doubles conquest and came out swinging.
History repeated itself as juniors Henry Jefferson and Jeremy Jin clinched the doubles point with their 7-5 win. UF took advantage as freshman Andreas Timini and junior Kevin Edengren secured a 6-4 early victory.
UF senior duo Lorenzo Claverie and Pablo Perez Ramos fell victim to the only doubles loss as they suffered a 6-3 defeat.
With momentum on their side, the Gators kept the pressure as three singles courts' first sets fell into their control.
Ganesan was close to continuing his supremacy as he was one set away from clinching it all. The Gator started the match off with a 6-2 win, but from there, No. 55 senior Benito Martinez quickly adjusted with his own 6-4 set. Despite trailing 3-0 in the final set, the Gator answered with his own 3-0 run, but ultimately fell short 6-4 at the end.
Claverie took a huge stride ahead, as he won his first set 6-1. His high velocity serves and towering presence close to the net were too much for senior Mario Martinez Serrano to handle. The Venezuelan wrapped up his court with his 6-2 straight set victory.
To make up for his narrow loss in Friday’s matchup, Edengren showed out. He commanded the court for an early 6-2 lead off a deuce point and finished with a 6-4 straight set win.
The other three Gators didn’t have it as easy as they trailed in their first sets and subsequently, in their final ones.
Ramos fell early 6-4 but remained focused. In his second set, he returned fire, shot a wild fade-away type return and pushed the middle frame in a wild deuce off, but ultimately lost 7-5.
After the first three games, Jin began to fall behind. Freshman Raphael Valksmann took the first set 6-3. As he looked to close it out, he delivered powerful front and backhands that placed just inside the sideline line. But just as both benefited from balls hitting the net and falling into their opponent’s box with no chance for return, Valksmann walked out alive with a 6-4 win to take the straight set victory.
Jefferson was extinguished 6-2 in straight sets. The first loss halted his momentum for the rest of the match as Petar Jovanovic got his ITA Indoors revenge. Despite serving up an ace and a linedrive sideline winner to sneak past his opponent, the Englishman was overthrown 6-3 for the Bulldogs’ first point.
Although Florida wanted to walk out victorious, it will have a chance at success against North Florida (8-6) at 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Alfred A. Ring Complex.
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.)
