UF Gator Alfredo Perez Named ITA Men’s Player to Watch in NCAA Tennis

University of Florida men’s tennis sophomore Alfredo Perez was named the ITA Player to Watch for NCAA Division I men’s tennis when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced the 2016-17 Division I national award winners earlier this week.

Perez is a Top 10-ranked player in both singles and doubles — No. 8 in singles and No. 5 in doubles. He’s posted a 23-10 singles win-loss record and 20-7 in doubles this season.

A two-time consecutive winner as a junior at the USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” Junior State Championships in the Boy’s 16s division in 2012-13, Perez signed with the Gators in the fall of 2014.

The Havana, Cuba native, who learned the game utilizing the popular youth tennis equipment and court sizes, was named the SEC Freshman of the Year last season and has become known as a quiet leader with a team-first approach.

From left: 2013 USTA Florida “Bobby Curtis” Junior State Boys’ 16s champion Alfredo Perez, Tournament Director Andy Gladstone, runner-up Chase Colton

“Having the best team possible is a lot more important than just focusing on myself,” he told College Tennis Online earlier this year. “As a tennis player growing up, it’s all about you. When you get to college it becomes about so much more than just you. You’re a team now, so you have to care as much about you as you do for your teammates. You want to help them improve as much as possible.”

The No. 15-seeded Gators in the NCAA tournament fell 4-0 to No. 2-seeded and eventual champion Virginia in the round of 16. Perez moves on to compete this week in the NCAA individual singles and doubles tournament.

The ITA is the governing body of college tennis, overseeing men’s and women’s varsity tennis at all levels — NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College. For more info go to www.itatennis.com.