At the start of SEC play, the Florida men’s tennis team struggled to secure the crucial doubles point. Through their first four conference matches, the Gators went 0-4 in doubles and held an overall SEC record of 1-3.
After that, Florida turned its doubles play around. The Gators adjusted their lineups and restructured practices, dedicating an entire day to doubles. They went on to win five of their next six doubles points and hold a 7-6 doubles record since. Florida now looks to maintain that level of play in this week’s SEC Tournament.
The turnaround began after the Gators lost their fourth straight doubles point to No. 22 South Carolina on March 1. They went on to lose the match, dropping to 1-3 in SEC play.
“It’s tough in the SEC to lose the doubles and then win more singles matches than the other team,” Florida coach Adam Steinberg said after the match. “We have to find a way to consistently win the doubles point. I think it would change everything.”
Following that loss, Florida reworked its approach to doubles in practice. The team dedicated an entire day that week to doubles and adjusted its methods. Instead of focusing on volleys, players competed in practice matches against each other.
“We get into match mode before we start playing,” Gators freshman Andreas Timini said. “It helps because we come into the match ready to play.”
In the next match against Texas A&M, Steinberg unveiled a new doubles lineup. He reunited his top-ranked duo, Henry Jefferson and Tanapatt Nirundorn, on court one, paired Lorenzo Claverie with Pablo Perez Ramos on court two, and teamed Timini with Kevin Edengren on court three.
The new combinations delivered Florida’s first doubles point in SEC play. Although the Gators lost the overall match in singles, the doubles performance provided momentum.
“We needed a spark,” Steinberg said.
That spark quickly turned into a surge. Florida won five of its next six doubles points and has gone 7-6 in doubles since the South Carolina match.
With results improving, the new practice approach stuck—Wednesday is now “doubles day” for the Gators.
While the lineup has seen minor tweaks since, the pairing of Timini and Edengren has remained consistent. The duo has been a major bright spot in Florida’s turnaround.
“What we do well on court is our attitude and the energy we show,” Edengren said. “I have a good relationship with Timmy (Timini)—we’re roommates too. A big part of doubles is trusting your partner, and having that relationship, whether you’re playing well or not, really helps.”
Since being paired together, the roommates won their first six sets and now hold an 8-2 record. Their only losses came against Oklahoma’s Asahi Harazaki and Johan Rodriguez and Arkansas’ Lukas Palovic and Connor Smillie. In two unfinished matches, they were leading when teammates clinched the doubles point.
During the win streak, Claverie nicknamed them “The Invincibles,” and the name stuck in the locker room.
“I don’t know how Lorenzo (Claverie) came up with it, but it suits us pretty well,” Edengren said.
Although they’ve cooled off slightly since their torrid stretch following the South Carolina match, the Gators look to maintain their strong doubles play heading into this week’s SEC Tournament.
