Emma Navarro wins women's NCAA tennis title, Sam Riffice claims men's
The Virginia freshman needed just 75 minutes to avenge her only loss of the season, beating defending champion Estrela Perez-Somarriba of Miami, 6-3, 6-1.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Virginia freshman Emma Navarro needed just 75 minutes on Friday to claim the NCAA women's singles championship, and Sam Riffice won the men's title for team champion Florida.
Navarro (25-1) avenged her only loss of the season, on April 4, by beating defending champion Estela Perez-Somarriba (24-3) of Miami (Florida) 6-3, 6-1 to become the first freshman to win the singles title since 2009.
Navarro is the second player in program history to win the final, joining two-time champion Danielle Collins (2014, 2016). Navarro beat top-seed Sara Daavettila of North Carolina in the semifinals.
Riffice become the first Gator since 1999 to claim the men's title by defeating second-seeded Daniel Rodriques of South Carolina 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Riffice also helped Florida win the team championship last week.
In women's doubles, North Carolina's Makenna Jones and Elizabeth Scotty beat Texas' freshman duo of Kylie Collins and Lulu Sun 7-6 (3), 4-6, 1-0 (10-8).
Tennessee's Adam Walton and Pat Harper claimed a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 1-0 (13-11) victory over Finn Murgett and Tad Maclean of Auburn in men's.