AUBURN, Ala. – Already twice on the losing end of matches this season with top-seeded Mississippi, the fourth-seeded Florida men’s tennis team couldn’t make the third time the charm, losing 4-0 to the Rebels in the semifinal round of the SEC Men’s Tennis Championship hosted by Auburn University at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
The top-seeded Rebels (23-2) jumped on coach Andy Jackson’s Gators (17-8) quickly.
The top doubles team in the nation, Mississippi’s Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge defeated Florida’s Antoine Benneteau and Joey Burkhardt, 8-3. That was the fourth matchup between the two doubles teams, with the Rebels now owning a 3-1 advantage.
Mississippi then earned the doubles point when its team of Kalle Norberg and Otto Sauer beat Florida’s Carlos Cueto and Alex Lacroix, 8-4, at No. 3.
The Rebels then rolled through singles play. Devin Britton, ranked No. 37 in the country, beat No. 30 Lacroix at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-1. Marcel Thiemann of Ole Miss then beat Jeff Dadamo, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 6 singles for a 3-0 Rebels lead.
Mississippi’s Otto Sauer then clinched the match with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Johnny Hamui at No. 5 singles.
Florida now awaits its seeding in the NCAA Championships. That news will come Tuesday on ESPNews at 5 p.m.
SEC MEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
At Yarbrough Tennis Center, Auburn, Ala.
SATURDAY’S SEMIFINALS
(1) MISSISSIPPI 4, (4) FLORIDA 0
DOUBLES
1. (1) Jonas Berg/Bram ten Berge (UM) def. Antoine Benneteau/Joey Burkhardt, 8-3.
2. Jeff Dadamo/Johnny Hamui (UF) vs. Devin Britton/Tucker Vorster (UM), 6-6, DNF.
3. Kalle Norberg/Otto Sauer (UM) def. Alex Lacroix/Carlos Cueto, 8-4.
Mississippi wins the doubles point, 2-0.
SINGLES
1. (16) Jonas Berg (UM) vs. (21) Carlos Cueto (UF), 7-6 (7-4), 2-3, DNF.
2. (37) Devin Britton (UM) def. (32) Alex Lacroix, 6-3, 6-1.
3. (39) Kalle Norberg (UM) vs. Antoine Benneteau (UF), 6-1, 4-4, DNF.
4. Bram ten Berge (UM) vs. Joey Burkhardt (UF), 6-2, 3-6, 5-2, DNF.
5. Otto Sauer (UM) def. Johnny Hamui (UF), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
6. Marcel Thiemann (UM) def. Jeff Dadamo (UF), 6-3, 6-4
(3) TENNESSEE 4, (2) GEORGIA 1
DOUBLES
1. (5) John-Patrick Smith/Davey Sandgren (UT) def. (4) Nate Schnugg/Jamie Hunt, 8-6.
2. (42) Boris Conkic/Matteo Fago (UT) def. Drake Bernstein/Javier Garrapiz, 8-2.
3. Borja Malo/Christian Vitulli (UG) vs. Matt Brewer/Bryan Swartz (UT), 6-4, DNF.
Tennessee wins the doubles point, 2-0.
SINGLES
1. (8) John-Patrick Smith (UT) def. (11) Nate Schnugg, 6-4, 6-4.
2. (66) Javier Garrapiz (UG) vs, (33) Boris Conkic (UT), 6-4, 2-3, DNF.
3. (78) Jamie Hunt (UG) vs. Matteo Fago (UT), 6-3, 3-4, DNF.
4. Josh Varela (UG) def. Davey Sandgren (UT), 6-4, 6-3.
5. Christian Hansen (UT) def. Drake Bernstein (UG), 6-3, 6-2.
6. Matt Brewer (UT) def. Christian Vitulli, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.
SUNDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP
2 p.m.: (1) Mississippi vs. (3) Tennessee