Florida men’s tennis player Florent Diep claimed the first singles title of his Gator career on Monday, defeating Georgia State’s Victor Valente in the finals of the 2012 USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championships in Tallahassee.

With the victory, Diep earned an automatic berth into the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. The event runs from Nov. 8-11 and invites 32 of the top singles players from all levels of college tennis to play in the tournament.

Diep, a junior from Paris, France, won six matches in four days to claim his first collegiate title, including two wins over top 50-ranked opponents. In the first three rounds, he did not drop a set. Diep beat Georgia’s Will Oliver, 6-4, 6-3, in the opening round on Friday. On Saturday, he took down Robert Schulze of Georgia State, 6-1, 6-0, and blanked University of Miami’s Diego Soto, 6-0, 6-0.

In the quarterfinal round on Sunday, Diep faced Georgia’s Hernus Pieters, ranked No. 36 in the ITA Preseason Singles Rankings. After dropping the first set 3-6, Diep rebounded and won the final two sets, 6-4, 6-4, earning his first career victory over a top-50 opponent.

To reach the finals, Diep had to beat teammate Bob van Overbeek on Sunday in the semifinals. Diep jumped on top first, taking the opening set 6-1. Van Overbeek took the second set, 4-6, but Diep earned the deciding set, 6-4. Valente, a senior from Brazil and All-CAA First Team selection in 2012, had not lost a match this fall entering the final against Diep. Diep cruised through the first set without losing a game and handed Valente his first loss of the fall season, winning 6-0, 6-3, to win the title and earn a trip to New York.

Complete results and brackets for the event can be found online through Florida State’s web site.

2012 USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championships

Monday, October 22, 2012

Singles Main Draw

Finals

(6) Florent Diep (UF) def. Victor Valente (GaState) 6-0, 6-3