Tennis - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF women's tennis coach Roland Thornqvist is from Sweden and said that being from outside the U.S. helps him recruit international talent. “I think that I understand what (international players) are going through when they get here,” he said.

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UF women’s tennis faces Kentucky as SEC race winds down

By River Wells | Apr. 12, 2018

With their victory against South Carolina last Saturday, the SEC race has found itself in a three-way tie.

Bryan Shelton was modest after earning his 100th career win as Florida's coach. “I don't hit a single ball in these matches so the players are the ones that should get the credit,” he said.

Sports

Florida sweeps LSU to give Shelton 100 wins at UF

By Dylan Rudolph | Apr. 9, 2018

The No. 9 Florida men’s tennis team swept the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge on Sunday 7-0 to give coach Bryan Shelton his 100th win at UF.

Senior Josie Kuhlman clinched the match for Florida in a 4-2 win over South Carolina on Saturday.

Sports

Gators women’s tennis team defeats Gamecocks to move into tie for first in SEC

By River Wells | Apr. 7, 2018

When senior Josie Kuhlman clinched the match and sealed a road victory over No. 5 South Carolina, she didn’t jump, scream or shout.

Freshman Andy Andrade accounted for the only point Florida could muster against No. 5 Texas A&M in Friday night's matchup.

Sports

Gators fall to Texas A&M for second straight loss

By Dylan Rudolph | Apr. 7, 2018

The No. 9 Florida men’s tennis team lost to No. 5 Texas A&M 6-1 in College Station on Friday.

Coach Roland Thornqvist and the Gators are wrapping up their regular season with three final conference matchups. "These last two weekends are going to provide some of the most exciting tennis and marquee match-ups,” he said.

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UF women’s tennis looking to overcome struggles against top-10 teams

By River Wells | Apr. 6, 2018

With three matches left in the regular season, the Florida women’s tennis team (14-6, 9-1 SEC) is second in the SEC standings. Right below it is Vanderbilt (16-3, 8-1 SEC) and Georgia (12-5, 7-3 SEC), two teams that have defeated Florida this year.

Coach Bryan Shelton said he is expecting stiff competition in the final three matches of Florida's regular season. “You have to embrace that you will get each team’s very best and solve each problem," he said.

Sports

Gators prepare to face top team in SEC

By Dylan Rudolph | Apr. 6, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team plays two matches on the road this weekend.

Coach Roland Thornqvist credited the Commodores after they beat Florida 4-0 in the finals match of the SEC Tournament on Sunday. “(Vanderbilt) was better today and sometimes that just happens," he said.

Sports

Florida women’s tennis team shut out by Texas at USTA Campus

By River Wells | Apr. 1, 2018

If the Florida women’s tennis team was expecting an ordinary contest walking into its match against Texas at the USTA Campus on Easter Sunday, it was sorely mistaken.

Senior McClain Kessler wrapped up his fall season with a doubles loss in the Round of 16 at the Dick Vitale Clay Court Classic.

Sports

Florida men’s tennis upset by South Carolina in dramatic matchup

By Dylan Rudolph | Apr. 1, 2018

McClain Kessler had no energy left to give as he walked off Court 6 of the Carolina Tennis Center.

Senior Anna Danilina helped lead the Gators to their fifth consecutive conference victory on Saturday.

Sports

UF sweeps Missouri for ninth SEC win

By River Wells | Mar. 31, 2018

Senior Anna Danilina crouched on the court as the crowd behind her at the Ring Tennis Complex clapped in unison. Her opponent, Missouri’s Selena Nash, was one point away from losing to Danilia in a singles match and it was her turn to serve.

Junior McClain Kessler helped win the doubles point for Florida before sweeping his opponent in singles play in the Gators' 4-3 win over Wake Forest.

Sports

Florida topples top-ranked Wake Forest

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 31, 2018

The No. 10 Florida men’s tennis team handed No. 1 Wake Forest its first home loss of the season Friday with a 4-3 win in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to push the team’s win streak to five in a row.

Coach Bryan Shelton said he respects the No. 1 ranking achieved by Wake Forest. “Their top three is a three-headed monster," he said.

Sports

Florida begins road trip with top team in the nation

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 29, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team will begin a four-match road trip on Friday.

Coach Roland Thornqvist and the Gators have won 10 of their previous 11 matches after Thursday night's victory over Arkansas.

Sports

UF defeats Arkansas 4-1 in return to Gainesville

By River Wells | Mar. 29, 2018

Freshman Katie Kubicz was on autopilot.

Coach Roland Thornqvist said he isn't taking the Thursday matchup with 5-11 Arkansas lightly.

Sports

UF women’s tennis team set to face Arkansas for first of three matches over a four-day span

By River Wells | Mar. 28, 2018

So far this season, the Arkansas women’s tennis team is 5-11 overall, only has one win in SEC play and is on a current six-match losing streak.

Florida coach Bryan Shelton said freshman Oliver Crawford is fitting in quickly with his new team. “He’s as comfortable with the coaches as he is with his teammates and friends," Shelton said.

Sports

Crawford’s bond with coaches leading to success in SEC play

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 27, 2018

Oliver Crawford walked out of coach Bryan Shelton’s office after the Florida men’s tennis team’s victory over Arkansas on Sunday.

Duarte Vale and McClain Kessler helped set the pace with a doubles win in Florida's 6-1 victory over Arkansas on Sunday at the Ring Tennis Complex. “I think those two really complemented themselves nicely today,” coach Bryan Shelton said.

Sports

Florida’s men’s tennis team wins fourth consecutive match in victory over Arkansas

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 25, 2018

Duarte Vale and McClain Kessler opened doubles play with something they were missing in their loss to Ole Miss on Friday: intensity.

Freshman McCartney Kessler continued her winning streak with the clinching match against Tennessee on Friday.

Sports

Florida women’s tennis team defeats Auburn to end SEC road stretch

By River Wells | Mar. 24, 2018

With the Alabama sun beating down upon them, Florida’s McCartney Kessler and Auburn’s Georgie Axon found themselves in the middle of a back-and-forth slugfest.

Florida men's tennis player teammate McClain Kessler (above) and teammate Duarte Vale defeated UCF doubles pair Mikhail Sokolovskiy and Gabriel Decamps 6-4 on Monday. The Gators as a whole beat the Knights 6-1 for the team's 2018 home opener at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Gators men's tennis team overpowers Ole Miss for third straight win

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 23, 2018

Court 6 at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex had all eyes on it on Friday night as junior McClain Kessler whooped and hollered his way to a match-clinching victory over Ole Miss.

Junior Alfredo Perez (left) and sophomore Johannes Ingildsen (right) are onto the quarterfinals of the NCAA Doubles Championships along with fellow Gators pairing of junior McClain Kessler and freshman Duarte Vale.

Sports

Florida returns home to face Ole Miss

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 22, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team returns home today to play Ole Miss.

Senior Anna Danilina eked a first set victory, 7-5, but buried her opponent in the second set 6-0 take a first-round singles victory at the NCAA Individual Championships Wednesday.

Sports

Gators shut out Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa on Thursday

By River Wells | Mar. 22, 2018

Senior Josie Kuhlman and freshman McCartney Kessler watched closely as the ball was hit back to them from Alabama’s side of the court.

Coach Roland Thornqvist and the Gators await tonight's matchup against Alabama.

Sports

UF’s women’s tennis team kicks off final matches of road stretch on Thursday against ‘Bama

By River Wells | Mar. 22, 2018

At the start of a four-match road stretch on March 16, the No. 18 Florida women’s tennis team was in a grove with six consecutive victories. But now, just two matches later, UF is back to square one.