The sixth-ranked Florida women’s tennis team swept No. 15 Arkansas 7-0 on a cold Friday evening at Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex in the Southeastern Conference opener for both squads.
The victory, which was the 825th in the 38-year history of the program, marked the Gators’ impressive home record against SEC foes to 162-1 all-time. The victory also extended Florida’s program-record home win streak 75 and its regular-season home win streak to 86.
After taking the doubles point, Florida (10-2, 1-0 SEC) raced out and won the opening set on all six singles courts en route to the sweep against the Razorbacks (10-3, 0-1 SEC).
“I thought we played well in doubles but not the greatest in singles,” said Florida coach Roland Thornqvist, who collected his 199th coaching victory in a nine-year Gator tenure and improved to 274-78 in 13 years overall as a head coach. “I thought our minds wandered off a bit here and there and we didn’t have great focus throughout.”
Sophomore Joanna Mather, who had been resting an injury since November, returned and showed little signs of rust as she provided the first singles win of the night, defeating Fernanda Perrotta, 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 6 position.
“It felt great to be back out there,” Mather said. “To look down the courts and see everyone else playing was a good feeling. I thought my ground strokes were pretty good. I was a little nervous closing out the match, but that will get better with more matches.”
Two minutes after Mather’s singles victory, sophomore newcomer Claire Bartlett clocked in Florida’s second win, as she defeated Valentina Starkova, 6-0, 6-2 at the No. 5 position.
Senior Marrit Boonstra got the clinching point as she downed Stephanie Roy, 6-2, 6-2, on court No. 3 and improved to 20-3 all-time in SEC singles dual match action.
Freshman Lauren Embree was next off the court as she defeated 54th-ranked Anouk Tigu, 6-4, 6-0, on the showcase court. Senior Anastasia Revzina followed seven minutes later with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 decision over Claudine Paulson at the No. 4 spot. Freshman Allie Will cruised past Emily Carbone in the first set on court No. 2, before finding herself in a 2-0 hole to start the second. Will then won five consecutive games to take a 5-2 lead. Carbone held en route to winning three straight games for 5-all, as the two held and forced a tiebreaker, where Will jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never looked back as she won her 30th singles match of the year while improving to 10-0 in dual match action.
Florida needed just 36 minutes to clinch the opening point of the dual match, winning the doubles point thanks to the quick work on courts No. 1 and No. 2. The Gator tandem of Lauren Embree and Anastasia Revzina provided the first result of the SEC season, taking down Stephanie Roy and Valentina Starkova, 8-1, and improving to 11-1 this season and 9-0 in dual match play. Sixth-ranked Marrit Boonstra and Allie Will then defeated Arkansas’ 18th-ranked team of Claudine Paulson and Anouk Tigu, 8-1, to secure the doubles point.
Florida returns to action Sunday at Linder Stadium when it plays host to Louisiana State at 1 p.m. The Lady Tigers defeated the Gators 4-3 in Baton Rouge last year, their lone win in the 35-match series history.
No. 6 FLORIDA 7, No. 15 ARKANSAS 0
At Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex, Gainesville, Fla.
DOUBLES
1. (6) Marrit Boonstra-Allie Will (F) def. (18) Claudine Paulson-Anouk Tigu, 8-1; 2. (34) Lauren Embree-Anastasia Revzina (F) def. Stephanie Roy-Valentina Starkova, 8-1; 3. Emily Carbone-Fernanda Perrotta (A) vs. Claire Bartlett-Caroline Hitimana (F), UF led 5-3, default. Order of finish: 2, 1, 3.
SINGLES
1. (15) Lauren Embree (F) def. (54) Anouk Tigu, 6-4, 6-0; 2. (11) Allie Will (F) def. Emily Carbone, 6-0 7-6 (4); 3. (62) Marrit Boonstra (F) def. Stephanie Roy, 6-2, 6-2; 4. (105) Anastasia Revzina (F) def. Claudine Paulson, 6-4, 7-5; 5. Claire Bartlett (F) def. Valentina Starkova, 6-0, 6-2; 6. Joanna Mather (F) def. Fernanda Perrotta, 6-2, 6-3. Order of Finish: 6, 5, 3, 1, 4, 2.
Records: Florida 10-2, 1-0 SEC; Arkansas 10-3, 0-1 SEC