Martinez Wins 11th Straight, Troy Knocks Off No. 53 South Florida

Saturday, February 24

Tampa, Fla.

1:30 p.m.

Troy University

South Florida

Martinez Wins 11th Straight, Troy Knocks Off No. 53 South Florida

2/24/2024 7:43:00 PM | Tennis (M)

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

Saturday, February 24, 2024
Contact: Adam Prendergast, 334-372-5555

Martinez Wins 11^th Straight, Troy Knocks Off No. 53 South Florida

TAMPA, Fla. – Troy's men's tennis picked up a marquee victory on Saturday, knocking off No. 53 South Florida, 4-3, at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.

Leading the charge for the Trojans (9-2) was sophomore Mario Martinez Serrano, who battled to a three-set victory over No. 36 Alvin Tudorica in thrilling fashion. Serrano, who moved to 11-0 on the year, won the opening set 6-3 before Tudorica battled back with a 6-4 victory in the second.

Martinez had a break to win the third set at 5-4 but came up just short in a deuce situation, before battling back to hold serve and then break Tudorcia and win the third set 7-5. The victory was his second over a ranked opponent in the past eight days after he defeated No. 64 Ivan Marrero Curbelo from Jacksonville State last Saturday.

Troy won the doubles point, which has been so critical to its success the last two years. The Trojans are 9-0 this year and 23-1 since the start of the 2023 season when claiming the doubles point.

Head coach Rolando Vargas switched up his duos for Saturday's match, and the gamble paid off with 6-1 and 6-0 wins on courts two and three. Martinez teamed up with Luciano Alcocer for the first time, while Carles Anton and Yeray Andres Pastor played together for the first time.

Benjamin Ambrosio gave the Trojans a 2-0 lead thanks to a 6-1, 6-1 win on court four and Alcocer won 6-0, 6-3 on court six to pull Troy within a point of victory.

Martinez's dramatic victory clinched the victory for Troy and turned out to be critical as the Bulls (5-6) rallied for three-set victories on courts two and five to close the final margin to 4-3.

Troy returns home for a doubleheader against Point (11 a.m.) and William Carey (2 p.m.) on Tuesday at the Lunsford Tennis Complex.

Troy 4, #53 South Florida 3

Singles
1. Martinez, Mario (TROY) def. #36 Alvin Tudorica (USFM) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
2. Erik Grevelius (USFM) def. Anton, Carles (TROY) 0-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Tom Pisane (USFM) def. Martens, Noah (TROY) 6-3, 6-4
4. Ambrosio, Benjamin (TROY) def. T. Pavlekovich-Smith (USFM) 6-1, 6-1 5. Agustin Cuellar (USFM) def. Pastor, Yeray (TROY) 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (2-7)
6. Alcocer, Luciano (TROY) def. Ben Hudson (USFM) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles
1. Simkin, Nicolas/Martens, Noah (TROY) vs. #40 Erik Grevelius/Alvin Tudorica (USFM) no result 2. Pastor, Yeray/Anton, Carles (TROY) def. Agustin Cuellar/T. Pavlekovich-Smith (USFM) 6-1
3. Martinez, Mario/Alcocer, Luciano (TROY) def. Tom Pisane/Ben Hudson (USFM) 6-0

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