Gator Country

Florida men's coach Andy Jackson announced the signing of English National player Luke Johnson on Tuesday. / Gator Country photo by Tim Casey

University of Florida men’s tennis head coach Andy Jackson announced today that English national Luke Johnson has signed a letter of intent to play tennis for the Gators, beginning in the fall of 2012.

“Luke is going to help us and we are going to help him,” said Coach Jackson. “His coach, Gary Henderson, played for me and together he and Luke have built a strong, fundamental foundation. Luke is an excellent student and a talented, ambitious player. He believes his best tennis is ahead and not behind him. We look forward to start working together in August and we congratulate him on becoming a Gator.”

Johnson, a native of Leeds, England, is rated No. 77 in the AEGON British Tennis Rankings Open Division. He will graduate from Greenhead 6th Form College and will enroll at Florida in August of 2012. With a UK rating of 3.1, Johnson currently ranks in the Top 5 in the United Kingdom for all males born in 1994.

“I am extremely excited to be able to work with Coach Jackson and to contribute to the continued success of the Gator men’s tennis team,” said Johnson. “I consider it an honor to be a student at the University of Florida.”

In 2011, Johnson was the British Colleges U19 Singles Champion, and was the runner-up at the same event this spring. At the 2011 AEGON U18 Nationals, Johnson was a singles semi-finalist while also reaching the finals in the doubles competition. He was part of the doubles pair that claimed the title at the 2011 ITF Ediburgh event and was a singles semi-finalist at the 2011 ITF Newcastle event.

Johnson represented Yorkshire through the years, playing in age groups ranging from U9 to U18, and compiled an impressive 31-1 singles record, earning the title of captain of the Yorkshire U18 County Cup team. He also represented Yorkshire on the Mens Senior County Cup team. In 2010, Johnson represented England at No. 1 in the 18 & Under division at the 4 Nations Event.

Courtesy UF Communications

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