Florida men’s tennis head coach Andy Jackson is hungry – hungry for another conference championship and a chance to go farther than the NCAA Round of 16.
Jackson and the Gators took advantage of their first opportunity for redemption Friday against Florida Atlantic in the Gator Invitational at Linder Stadium at the Ring Tennis Complex.
UF also happened to be another year older and wiser. As a freshman last season, Spencer Newman said he did not know what to expect last postseason.
“This year I know exactly what I am working for. I know exactly what to expect,” Newman said. “Going in as a sophomore, it is going to be a different story.”
Jackson said the Gators had a pretty good first day overall. Florida swept the Owls 9-0 in the second match of the Gator Invitational. The Gators did not drop a set.
Newman answered the call at number two singles with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory. The sophomore said he finally feels healthy and has played consistently since Feb., his longest stretch of playing in three or four years.
Although Jackson played Newman on court two, a change from his usual court six, he said that the lineup will change drastically, because he felt that UF has the players to mix and match court. Newman’s departure from court six left a hole for someone to fill.
“The level of the role will be the same, but I think he will likely play higher,” Jackson said. “We need to have someone at six that can play top-50 in the country if we want to do what those guys say they want to do.”
Enter sophomore Michael Alford, who broke his foot last season, but someone Jackson wants to play a significant role his freshman year.
The Gators also welcomed Frank Carleton, a transfer from Wake Forest. Jackson said Carleton has the talent to play on a team of Florida’s caliber.
“He hasn’t played very much in the last year, but he is someone who has played top-20 in college. There is no doubt in my mind that he can play top-six on a top-five team. There is no doubt in my mind that he could play on a national championship team,” Jackson said. “It is going to take us awhile to get him going, but we are super excited that he is here.”
Newman, who worked out four times a day between conditioning, gym and tennis practice, noticed how hard the transfer has worked in the offseason.
“So far, he has been training hard over the summer that is what I hear. He’s been puking everyday doing his work,” Newman said. “He’s doing it.”
One Gator will have to step up after the graduation of all-time wins leader Alexandre Lacroix. Fellow Frenchman Nassim Slilam has done what was asked of him as the incoming top-ranked player. Slilam has matured, according to his head coach.
“It is one of those things that you love to see as a college coach where the guy gets it. He is not the same guy he was two-and-a-half years ago,” Jackson said. “We were very proud of that in the beginning, but there is a long way to go.”
Friday against FAU, was only the beginning, Newman said. Although the match did not have the intensity of an SEC tournament final, the butterflies were still there.
“Going into this first match, I was really nervous. It didn’t matter who I was playing. It could have been my little brother out there. I was just nervous,” Newman said. “You get those beginning nerves.”
The Gator Invitational begins play again Sat. with both matches starting at 9 a.m. at the Ring Tennis Complex. The round-robin included UCF and USF as well.
Doubles*
1—#36 Federhofer/Slilam (UF) def. Albrecht/Neuner (FAU) 8-1 (:20)
2—Carleton/Newman (UF) def. Bacha/Betsarakis (FAU) 8-3 (:49)
3—Butz/van Overbeek (UF) def. Dubuque/Janssen (FAU) 8-4 (:41)
Order of Finish: 1-3-2
Singles*
1—#36 Slilam (UF) def. Albrecht (FAU) 6-0, 6-3 (1:01)
2—Newman (UF) def. Janssen (FAU) 6-1, 6-0 (:57)
3—#58 van Overbeek (UF) def. Neuner (FAU) 6-1, 6-2 (1:01)
4—#119 Federhofer (UF) def. Dubuque (FAU) 6-2, 6-2 (:58)
5—#69 Carleton (UF) def. Betsarakis (FAU) 6-3, 6-4 (1:19)
6—Alford (UF) def. Bacha (FAU) 6-2, 6-1 (1:02)
Order of Finish: 2-4-3-1-6-5
*Indicates unofficial match times compiled by Gator Country.