Orlando’s Sam Riffice, a rising sophomore at the University of Florida, won his first ITF/USTA Pro Circuit title last weekend when he defeated University of Southern California rising senior Brandon Holt 6-1, 6-4 in the final of the Wichita Tennis Open, a $25,000 ITF World Tennis Tour event in Wichita, Kan.
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The win ended a three-final losing streak for the 6-foot-2 Riffice, who this year for the Gators was named an ITA All-American in singles, the ITA Southeast Region Rookie of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year, Second-Team All-SEC, and to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
REMARKABLE ROOKIE SEASON FOR @RIFFICESAM 👏
2⃣6⃣ singles wins ☑️
🔟-0⃣ in @SEC singles play ☑️@SEC Freshman of the Year, Second-Team All-SEC, All-Freshman ☑️@ITA_Tennis SE Rookie of the Year ☑️& @ITA_Tennis Singles ALL-AMERICAN 🇺🇸 (7th freshman in UF history)#GoGators 🐊 pic.twitter.com/jopiv5mYVh
— Gators Men's Tennis (@GatorsMTN) May 24, 2019
Seeded No. 4, Riffice did not drop a set all week, defeating the No. 5 seed and the No. 3-seeded Holt. He improved to 1-3 in career finals.
Holt, the son of former American great Tracy Austin, was attempting to add a second 2019 title to his resume after a victory at the $25,000 event in Los Angeles earlier this year. He won his first pro title last year.
The doubles title was won by Holt and partner Alexander Cozbinov of Moldova, the No. 3 seeds, who in the final defeated the unseeded American/Great Britain pair of Jacob Dunbar and David Fox 7-6(5), 6-3.
For more USTA Pro Circuit info go to www.usta.com.
