Thursday, November 6
Baton Rouge, LA
Florida Gators
vs
ITA Sectional Championships
Lucie Pawlak Bests Nation's Top Player At ITA Women's South Sectional Championship
Thursday, November 6, 2025 | Women's Tennis
Daubernova, Nong, Paskaukas Also Pick Up Wins In Round of 32
BATON ROUGE, La. – Florida freshman Lucie Pawlak pulled off the biggest win of the day at the ITA Women's South Sectional Championships, Thursday, as she upended the top ranked player in the nation in Auburn's DJ Bennett, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3).
She led a quartet of Gators who advanced out of the round of 32 in the singles draw, as Nikola Daubernova came back from a one-set deficit to beat LSU's Addison Lanton 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Gabia Paskauskas battled to a 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 victory over Georgia Tech's Scarlett Nicholson; and Xinyi Nong bested Tennessee's Vanesa Suarez, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
Daubernova will take on Vanderbilt's Valeria Ray on Friday, November 7, while Paskauskas goes up against Florida State's Amelia Bissett, Nong squares off against Georgia's Sofia Rojas, and Pawlak faces Tennessee's Saray Yli-Pilpari. All four matches get underway at 12 p.m. ET. In the consolation draw, Gynina opposes Emma Dong of the University of Georgia at 10 a.m.
In doubles competition, Nong and Daubnerova topped Georgia's Emily Deming and Hayden Mulberry, 7-6, 6-1, while Gynina and Paskauskas dropped a 7-6, 6-4 decision to Florida State's Bissett and Eva Shaw.
Nong and Daubnerova and Auburn's Bennett and Ava Esposito start their quarterfinals match Friday at 5 p.m. ET. Gynina and Paskauskas take on Erin Pearce and Mia Yamakita in the consolation quarterfinals, also at 5 p.m. Friday.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Women's Open Singles draw
Women's Open Doubles draw
Live Video
Live Stats (Fri./Sat./Sun.)
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"I fought until the last point," said Pawlak, "and showed that being a Gator means being fierce and unstoppable. I'm proud to be a Gator. Three hours, 7-6 in the final set, saving three match points. I'm excited to play the next round!"
Head Coach Per Nilsson added, "It's great for Lucie to get one of these top wins early in her career. It's always great to see players that work very hard get rewarded."
She led a quartet of Gators who advanced out of the round of 32 in the singles draw, as Nikola Daubernova came back from a one-set deficit to beat LSU's Addison Lanton 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Gabia Paskauskas battled to a 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 victory over Georgia Tech's Scarlett Nicholson; and Xinyi Nong bested Tennessee's Vanesa Suarez, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
Daubernova will take on Vanderbilt's Valeria Ray on Friday, November 7, while Paskauskas goes up against Florida State's Amelia Bissett, Nong squares off against Georgia's Sofia Rojas, and Pawlak faces Tennessee's Saray Yli-Pilpari. All four matches get underway at 12 p.m. ET. In the consolation draw, Gynina opposes Emma Dong of the University of Georgia at 10 a.m.
In doubles competition, Nong and Daubnerova topped Georgia's Emily Deming and Hayden Mulberry, 7-6, 6-1, while Gynina and Paskauskas dropped a 7-6, 6-4 decision to Florida State's Bissett and Eva Shaw.
Nong and Daubnerova and Auburn's Bennett and Ava Esposito start their quarterfinals match Friday at 5 p.m. ET. Gynina and Paskauskas take on Erin Pearce and Mia Yamakita in the consolation quarterfinals, also at 5 p.m. Friday.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Women's Open Singles draw
Women's Open Doubles draw
Live Video
Live Stats (Fri./Sat./Sun.)
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: X | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
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