University of Florida women’s tennis head coach Roland Thornqvist announced that Alexandra Cercone (Seminole, Fla.) and Olivia Janowicz (Palm Bay, Fla.) have signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Gators for the 2010-11 season.

“We are absolutely ecstatic to sign the two best players from the state of Florida to join our program,” Thornqvist said. “Alex and Olivia continue the tradition of home-state products becoming Gators. Their addition makes for a bright future. Not only are they great tennis players individually, but they are great team players who understand the team concept.”

Cercone (pronounced sir-CONE) is listed as the No. 4 recruit in the country by tennisrecruiting.net and No. 1 in the Southeast. She captured the Girls’ 18s singles title of the USTA Winter Super Nationals on Jan. 1, 2008, defeating five of the top 20 seeds to win the championship, including the 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory against top-seeded Keri Wong for the crown. Cercone, who is listed No. 94 in the Nov. 2009 International Tennis Federation world rankings listing, reached the singles final at the 2008 South Carolina G18 ITF. Pairing with Beatrice Capra, Cercone reached the final of the 2009 Pan American Closed ITF Championships, having to retire in the last match after winning the first game. With other partners, she reached the semifinals of the 2009 International Casablanca Junior Cup in Mexico and the 2009 AEGON International Junior Tennis Championships – Roehampton in Great Britain. Cercone reached the semifinals of the 2009 Easter Bowl ITF GB18 Championships, where she fell to current Gator freshman Lauren Embree, and advanced to the round of 16 at the 2009 USTA G18 National Championships, again bowing out in a three-set decision to Embree. She played in the 2009 Australian open Junior Championships, where she competed her way through qualifying and reached the round of 32.

Janowicz is listed by tennisrecruiting.com as the No. 24 recruit in the nation and a “5-Star Recruit.” The 2008 G18 ITF Spring Circuit (Waco, Texas) singles champion, Janowicz was a quarterfinalist a the 50K Indian Harbour Beach (Fla.) event in May of 2009. She was a finalist at the 2009 USTA Florida Closed Sectional BG18-14, dropping a tough 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the championship match, while reaching the finals of the 2008 G18 Prokom Cup in Gdynia. At the 2009 USTA National Championships, Janowicz reached the round of 32 of the G18 singles draw and the quarterfinals of the doubles event. She played her way through the qualifying draw and reached the round of 32 at the 2009 USTA National Clay Court Championships. On the doubles court, Janowica paired with Alina Jerjomina and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2009 Easter Bowl, falling to a team that included Embree, who also eliminated her in the round of 32 of the singles draw. She was a semifinalist at the 2008 USTA G18 National Open played in Tampa. Janowicz and Cercone were teammates on the U.S. Team that competed at the 2007 Maureen Connolly Challenge.

Florida Women’s Tennis 2010 Signing Class

Alexandra Cercone, Seminole, Fla. (Allendale Academy)

Olivia Janowicz, Palm Bay, Fla. (American School)

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