Special to Gatorsports.com
The Florida men’s tennis team will open the 2020 campaign as the top nationally ranked team in the country, slotted at No. 1 in the Oracle/ITA Preseason Rankings announced Wednesday.
The Gators notched their highest preseason ranking since opening the 2006 season ranked second. Florida has pushed their streak of ranking in the Top 25 of the Oracle/ITA Preseason Rankings to 18 consecutive years now.
During the 2019 season, Florida reached the final four prior to falling to reigning national champions, Texas. The Gators went 25-4 during the year, including 22 wins over ranked opponents, while claiming the SEC regular season crown with an undefeated conference record of 12-0. The Gators were ranked No. 4 in the year end Oracle/ITA rankings from 2018-19.
During the 2020 season, Florida faces seven teams ranked inside the Top 25.
No. 1 Florida opens the season Saturday, as the Gators welcome Furman and FAU to the Alfred A. Ring Complex for a pair of doubleheaders slated for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
RANK TEAM 2018-19 YEAR END RANK
1 Florida (5) 4
2 Texas (4) 1
3 USC (3) 8
4 North Carolina 7
5 Baylor 6
6 Ohio State 3
7 Wake Forest 2
8 TCU 10
9 Texas A&M 14
10 Virginia 5
11 UCLA 11
12 Stanford 12
13 Illinois 15
14 California 18
15 Oklahoma State 22
16 South Carolina 19
17 Michigan 20
18 Tennessee 13
19T Columbia 16
19T Georgia 21
21 Mississippi State 9
22 Oklahoma 17
23 NC State 23
24 San Diego 25
25 Arizona State 24
