It was an upset at home for the University of Miami club tennis team when it fell to the University of Florida in the Gold Bracket final of the UM Ibis Open, held at the Crandon Park Tennis Facility in Key Biscayne Jan. 18-19, 2020. Two out-of-state club teams also took part in this event: Ohio State University and the University of Wisconsin.
“Fortunately for the players, they were met with perfect weather leading to even better tennis,” said USTA Florida Tennis on Campus Coordinator Desirae McLaughlin. “This event was played at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, former home of the Miami Open, so this is always a treat for players to play on the same courts as Serena and Federer.”
The UF-“A” team defeated the UM-“A” squad 26-20 in the Gold Bracket final. This isn’t the first time UF has edged out UM at home – at last season’s UM Ibis Open, it was a battle to the finish which ultimately ended with UF slipping by UM in the Gold Bracket final to win 25-24. This year’s win is UF’s third title of the 2019-2020 USTA Florida “Tennis on Campus” season, and vaults the team into a first-place tie with the University of Central Florida.
Gold Final: UF-“A” d. UM-“A” 26-20
Women’s Doubles: Isabella Herrero/Laura Perdiguero (UF) d. Daniela Gonzalez/Juliana Gonzalez 6-0
Men’s Doubles: Coley Hungate/James Bratt (UF) d. Rochan Ramesh/Beltran Moreno 6-4
Women’s Singles: Juliana Gonzalez (UM) d. Ashlesha Lissanevitch 6-4
Men’s Singles: David Burns (UF) d. Niles Ghatfer 6-4
Mixed Doubles: Rochan Ramesh/Daniela Gonzalez (UM) d. Coley Hungate/Ashlesha Lissanevitch 6-3
The UF-“C” team won the Silver Bracket after defeating the Florida Gulf Coast University-“A” team 29-17 in the final. In the Bronze Bracket, the Florida Atlantic University-“A” squad topped the UM-“E” team 23-22.
24 teams from nine schools competed at the event: UM, UF, UCF, University of Southern Florida, FAU, Florida State University, FGCU, University of Wisconsin, and Ohio State University.
The next event on the 2019-20 USTA Florida “Tennis on Campus” schedule will be at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa on Feb. 1.
USTA Florida “Tennis on Campus” 2019-20 tournament schedule:
Sept. 14 — UF Gatorbowl, Gainesville (Final: UF-“A” d. UM-“A”)
Sept. 28 — FAU Burrow Brawl, Boca Raton (Final: UCF-“A” d. UM-“A”)
Oct. 5 — FSU Clash at the Capital, Tallahassee (Final: UF-“A” d. FSU-“A”)
Oct. 26 — USF Bull Run, Tampa (Final: UM-“A” d. UF-“A”)
Nov. 2 — FGCU Dirty Bird Classic, Ft. Myers (Final: UCF-“A” d. UT-“A”)
Nov. 16 — UCF Knightro Cup, Orlando (Final: UCF-“A” d. UF-“A”)
Jan. 11 — UNF Swoop the Nest, Jacksonville (Final: UM-“A” vs. UF-“A” canceled)
Jan. 18 — UM Ibis Open, Key Biscayne (Final: UF-“A” d. UM-“A”)
Feb. 1 — Hillsborough Community College, Tampa
Feb. 15 — Delray Beach Open “Tennis on Campus” Challenge
Feb. 22 — USTA Florida Tennis on Campus Section Championships
About USTA Tennis On Campus
The USTA’s Tennis On Campus program is designed to provide college students with opportunities for team camaraderie, social networking, and rivaled competition through tennis without the rigors of a NCAA varsity program. Tennis on Campus offers fun co-ed team-based play (using the World TeamTennis scoring format), regional and national championship competition, and helps students maintain active and healthy lifestyles through their college years. Currently the program is offered on more than 500 college campuses. The USTA Tennis on Campus team format features men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles, with a minimum of two men and two women per team.
For more information on the USTA Florida Tennis on Campus series, to see team results or to start a team, go to www.ustaflorida.com/TOC, or contact Desirae McLaughlin at toc@ustaflorida.com.
