Action Continues Today

ATLANTA, GA – July 20, 2025 – Saturday night in Atlanta, Team Tampa turned the INTENNSE™ Arena into a proving ground. After four consecutive losses and two stinging defeats at the hands of Team Jacksonville, Head Coach Yelena Labat's squad finally put all the pieces together. The result was a hard-fought, high-stakes 207–198 victory, Tampa’s first of the season, and a clear sign that their season is far from over.

Heading into the night, Tampa had been showing signs of improvement. Their Women’s Singles rotation had been rock solid all season, but inconsistent Men’s Singles performances and struggles in Doubles had kept them out of the win column. Saturday night, everything changed.

“I’m just really happy for the team and the players who finally got a win,” said Labat. “We worked hard this week, not just physically, but mentally and strategically. They all knew who they had to play, and we had the right plan.”
The night opened with Men’s Singles, a rotation Tampa hadn’t won all season. Sam Frizelle got the start and looked sharper than ever, taking on Jacksonville’s Sam Nicholson, who has been a standout all season long. Frizelle played with confidence, aggression, and control, setting the tone early.

“I watched a lot of film on Sam,” Frizelle said. “It took a lot of belief and trust from my teammates and coach. I had a plan, I stuck to it, and I made it happen.”

Frizelle, with support from Noori Adam, helped Tampa secure a 67–65 win in Men’s Singles, a momentum-shifting performance that laid the foundation for what came next.

In Women’s Singles, Seone Mendez and INTENNSE newcomer Victoria Flores delivered a dominating 67–44 performance. The duo extended Tampa’s overall lead to 134–109 and energized the entire arena with their chemistry, energy, and high-level execution.

“Honestly, I just think we’re playing super consistent and super disciplined,” Mendez said. “Vicky helped me a lot tonight, and I didn’t have to play the full 30 minutes. That was awesome.”

Flores, who signed on last-minute to join the team, made an immediate impact both on and off the court.
“I wasn’t even planning to play the last two weekends,” said Flores. “But after dinner with the team, I told J.Y. to put me in. I just felt the vibe.”

That vibe turned into a show. Between her fiery on-court play, her intensity from the bench, and her raw emotion, Flores brought the spark that Team Tampa had been missing.

“She’s just loud, super positive, and brings so much energy,” Mendez said. “That’s what we needed.”

As dominant as Tampa was in singles, Doubles still loomed, and everyone knew Team Jacksonville’s strength in that rotation, but the scoreboard pressure took its toll. While Martin Gutierrez and Maxwell Benson kept the Bolt score close, they couldn’t really build any momentum. Annabelle Thomas and Sofia Johnson, however, caught fire and managed to pile on a flurry of plus twos in Women’s Doubles to swing the match back toward Jacksonville.

They played nearly perfect tennis and gave themselves a chance, providing fans with an incredible finish. 
“I was scared,” Labat admitted. “I just wanted the clock to run out. We knew Jacksonville was going to push. I told our players, ‘No easy points.’”

Gutierrez and Johnson continued to claw back in Mixed Doubles. At one point, the lead was down to six. Gutierrez had an opportunity to cut it to five on a key volley but missed the angle. Frizelle stepped up and poached on match point, sealing the win.

Jacksonville outscored Tampa 89–73 in the Doubles portion, cutting the final deficit to just nine points.
“We were only up by six after leading by almost 30,” said Frizelle. “It got tense, but we stayed composed. Vicky helped a ton, and we finished it.”

For Flores, the experience was more than a win; it was validation.

“I'm super excited because I could have spent maybe more than I made this weekend and not even earned one twentieth of what I made,” she said. “So it's really awesome for me, you know, in my career that I'm coming back.”

Mendez echoed that sentiment. “I’m just happy we got the win,” she said. “Money aside, this was for the team. But I’ll definitely treat myself to a vanilla latte.”

On the other side, Team Jacksonville showed heart in the loss.

“We weren’t really looking at the score,” said Gutierrez. “We played point by point. We got it tight, and that was the best we could do.”

Jacksonville Coach Caio Ravagnani praised his team’s resilience. 

“We didn’t get the result, but I’m proud of every player,” he said. “They never gave up. The Doubles comeback was insane. My heart was racing. But that’s what INTENNSE is all about.”

With the win, Team Tampa improves to 1–4, while Team Jacksonville drops to 3–2. More importantly, Tampa has finally solved the formula. Their Women’s Singles rotation continues to dominate. Their Men’s Singles found its footing. And with Flores in the mix, their energy and belief may be exactly what turns this season around.

On Saturday night, Team Tampa changed the trajectory of their season and let the rest of the league know they’re here to fight.
 

Redemption Secured: Atlanta Prevails in Star-Studded Dual Against the Challenge Team

No changes in the roster from last week. The team picked off Tampa 217-187 in Week 3.

Saturday afternoon’s INTENNSE Dual wasn’t just another Match. It was a Georgia tennis reunion years in the making, fueled by legacy, redemption, and rising intensity. On one side stood Team Atlanta, eager to avenge their Week One loss against the Challenge Team. On the other side, the Challenge Team was led by University of Georgia tennis legend Manny Diaz and anchored by former world No. 24 Christina McHale, both making their much-anticipated debuts inside the INTENNSE Arena.

It was also a coaching showdown filled with emotion and history, as Coach Diaz faced off against his former player, Trent Bryde. But once the first serve was struck, nostalgia gave way to fire.

“We weren’t ready for Week One,” said Trent Bryde. “But now we’re just getting better and better with every Dual, and we’re locked in.”

That mindset powered Team Atlanta to an early lead in Men’s Singles, where Bryde played with precision and urgency, outpacing Challenge Team competitors Danijal Muminovic, London Vasilecu, and Richard Biagiotti. His efforts helped Atlanta open the afternoon with a 73-59 lead and a strong surge of momentum.

Next came the featured moment of the Dual: Women’s Singles, where Christina McHale made her first appearance in the INTENNSE format. A decorated professional with deep Grand Slam experience and a career-high ranking inside the WTA top 25, McHale brought prestige and attention to the Challenge Team lineup. But Atlanta countered with team captain Michaela Gordon who has been a steady presence.

“Playing against Christina was amazing,” said Michaela Gordon. “I knew it was her first time in this format. I just focused on staying within myself, keeping big margins, and not giving away free points.”

Gordon’s strategy delivered a 67 to 54 win in Women’s Singles, giving Team Atlanta a commanding 140 to 113 lead heading into the final rotation.

For McHale, despite the result, the experience was rewarding.  

“It’s very intense,” she said. “It really makes you feel like every point matters. You have to move quickly, and there’s no time to overthink. For players like me coming back from injury, this is incredible preparation. And especially for women, to have something like this that’s competitive and sustainable, it’s so important.”

Coach Manny Diaz echoed that perspective, praising the league and the opportunities it provides for players at all levels.

“This format is fast and unpredictable, but that’s what makes it exciting,” Diaz said. “Atlanta had been here before. They looked comfortable. They didn’t miss as much. For young pros, college players, and returning veterans like Christina, this is a tremendous opportunity.”

With the Dual in their hands, Team Atlanta delivered the finishing touch in Doubles. Kevin King and Raul Garcia took control from the first point. Garcia’s serve was a weapon, while King patrolled the net with confidence and surgical precision. The Men’s Doubles guided team Atlanta to an emphatic 85 to 66 victory in Doubles, closing out the afternoon with a final score of 225 to 179.

“Christina is an amazing competitor,” said Kevin King. “But this league has real momentum. The intensity, the energy, the opportunity, it’s electric. And we’re just getting started.”

Team Atlanta’s complete lineup, featuring Trent Bryde, Raul Garcia, Kevin King, Michaela Gordon, Ava Hrastar, and Tanya Sasnouskaya, has matured quickly under the direction of Head Coach Marcelo Ferreira.
“That first week was about learning,” said Marcelo Ferreira. “Now there is rhythm, there is trust, and the players are stepping up. Michaela, Trent, and Kevin, everyone had a role. This league is creating something special, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

Though the Challenge Team featuring Christina McHale, Danijal Muminovic, London Vasilecu, Richard Biagiotti, Artemis Aslanisvili, and Amelie Smejkalova did not secure the win, their presence elevated the Dual and showcased the league’s growing reach.

And if you dig beneath the top scoreline, you find that the Challenge Team improved in each match category, narrowing the margins with every Bolt. In Men’s singles they improved from -8 in the first Bolt to -3 in the second and third; in Women’s singles they improved from -10, to -8, finishing with +5; in Doubles the initial -11 Bolt became -8 in the second and -1 in the third.

Perhaps no one summarized the moment better than INTENNSE announcer JY Aubone.

“We know what we’re building,” said JY Aubone. “The world doesn’t know yet. But when respected figures like Christina and Manny come here, take it seriously, and want to be part of it, that sends a message. The world is starting to see it.”

Today: Team Atlanta hosts Team Jacksonville at 2 PM ET.