Match Details
No. 7 Georgia 4, South Florida 1
South Florida (1-2), Georgia (3-0)
Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 | 2 p.m.
Athens, Ga. | Dan Magill Tennis Complex
 
ATHENS, Ga. (Jan. 31, 2022) – The University of South Florida men's tennis team closed out its season-opening weekend of competition on Monday in the final match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Athens, Ga. The Bulls battled one of the nation's elite programs, falling just short of No. 7 Georgia, 4-1.
 
Georgia's Blake Croyder and Erik Grevelius jumped out on top winning on court three, defeating Sergio Gomez Montesa and Alvin Tudorica, 6-2, to take the first doubles match. Bruno Oliveira and Rithvik Bollipalli made things difficult on court one, taking on the Bulldogs' No. 21-ranked tandem of Trent Bryde and Philip Henning, pushing them to the limit in a 7-5 loss, giving Georgia the doubles point.   
 
In singles, the Bulls took Georgia to three sets in all four matches that were completed. The Bulldogs' Tristan McCormick won on court four, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, before Chase Ferguson earned South Florida's only point of the afternoon, coming from a set down to win on court one, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, and defeating No. 62-ranked Trent Bryde.
 
Ivan Yatsuk and Antonio Muniz both faced top 35 players in their singles matches and both had impressive outings despite the losses. On court two, Yatsuk led 6-4 against No. 23-ranked Philip Henning after one set and had the second go to a tiebreaker before falling, 7-6 (7-5). Henning pulled away in the third for a 6-4 victory, putting Georgia up 3-1.
 
Like Yatsuk, Muniz went to three sets, which included a tiebreaker on No. 32-ranked Hamish Stewart. Muniz won the first set, 7-6 (7-4), before Steward came back to take sets two and three, 6-1 and 7-5, to give the Bulldogs the victory.   
 
Quotable
"We really played some good tennis today," said South Florida head coach Ashley Fisher. "It's special to see how far the guys have come in just three days. We played as one today. Credit to Georgia for stealing a couple of matches where we had match points. Georgia is always competing for national championships and we gave them a scare today. Our program is about growing as individuals and as athletes and we took a big step today."
 
Up Next
The Bulls return home to the Varsity Tennis Courts for its home-opener when it takes on Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. and then North Florida at 2:30 p.m. South Florida will close out the three-match homestand on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 1:30 p.m. against No. 19 Texas A&M.
 
Doubles
1. #21 Trent Bryde/Philip Henning (UGA) def. Bruno Oliveira/Rithvik Bollipalli (USF), 7-5
2. Tristan McCormick/Hamish Stewart (UGA) vs. Chase Ferguson/Antonio Muniz (USF), 6-5 (Unfinished)
3. Blake Croyder/Erik Grevelius (UGA) def. Sergio Gomez Montesa/Alvin Tudorica (USF), 6-2
Order of finish: 3,1
 
Singles
1. Chase Ferguson (USF) def. #62 Trent Bryde (UGA), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. #23 Philip Henning (UGA) def. Ivan Yatsuk (USF), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
3. #32 Hamish Stewart (UGA) def. Antonio Muniz (USF), 6-7 (7-4), 6-1, 7-5
4. Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Bruno Oliveira (USF), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
5. Blake Croyder (UGA) vs Sergio Gomez Montesa (USF), 4-2 (Unfinished)
6. Thomas Paulsell (UGA) vs Alvin Tudorica (USF), 3-2 (Unfinished)
Order of finish for singles: (4,1,3,2)
 
About Men's Tennis
Be sure to follow USF men's tennis on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.?Head coach?Ashley Fisher?will begin his sixth year at the helm of the program for the 2021-22 season.