Kentucky Fall on Road to Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats men’s tennis team suffered a 7-0 setback at the hands of the Florida Gators in the penultimate match of the regular season Friday evening at Ring Tennis Center.

Sophomore tandem William Bushamuka and Trey Yates marked the bright spot for the Wildcats, earning Kentucky’s lone match victory. The two were the first to finish in doubles, taking down the 62nd-ranked duo of Maxx Lipman and Elliot Orkin, 6-2 on the second court.

The Wildcats then fell 6-2 and 6-3 on the top and bottom courts to drop the doubles point.

From there, junior Nils Ellefsen fell first in singles play on the third court, 6-2, 6-4. Freshman Enzo Wallart was second to go, facing a 6-2, 6-2 setback. 

The Gators clinched the match on the top court, where Bushamuka fell in three sets to No. 13 Diego Hidalgo, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Freshman Ryotaro Matsumura, sophomore Jake Stefanik and Yates all extended their matches to three sets before eventually falling to their opponents.

Kentucky will round out the regular season on Sunday, April 17, at 2 p.m. ET in Auburn, Ala., against Auburn University.

#13 Florida Gators (M) 7, #20 Kentucky 0

Singles competition:

1. #13 Diego Hidalgo (FLA) def. #31 William Bushamuka (UK) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2

2. Alfredo Perez (FLA) def. #35 Ryotaro Matsumura (UK) 6-3, 2-6, 7-5

3. #38 Elliott Orkin (FLA) def. Nils Ellefsen (UK) 6-2, 6-4

4. #107 Chase Perez-Blanco (FLA) def. Enzo Wallart (UK) 6-2, 6-2

5. Gordon Watson (FLA) def. Trey Yates (UK) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

6. Maxx Lipman (FLA) def. Jake Stefanik (UK) 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)

Doubles competition:

1. #1 Diego Hidalgo/Gordon Watson (FLA) def. #71 Nils Ellefsen/Enzo Wallart (UK) 6-2

2. William Bushamuka/Trey Yates (UK) def. #62 Maxx Lipman/Elliott Orkin (FLA) 6-2

3. Alfredo Perez/Chase Perez-Blanco (FLA) def. Ryotaro Matsumura/Austin Hussey (UK) 6-3

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,4,1,5,2,6)

For more information on the Kentucky men’s tennis team, follow @UKMensTennis on Twitter or Kentucky Men’s Tennis Team on Facebook.