INTENNSE™ Opening Weekend Heats Up on Day Two as Team Jacksonville Downs Atlanta in Electric Team Match
INTENNSE Tennis
3 MINS | Published on 06/22/25
ATLANTA, GA – June 22, 2025 – The atmosphere was electric inside the INTENNSE™ Arena for day two of opening weekend. Team Jacksonville surged to a 205-187 victory over Team Atlanta in a hard-fought battle that featured fired-up athletes, roaring fans, and nonstop intensity. With air horns blaring and energy at a fever pitch, fans witnessed a fast-paced, emotionally charged display of next-generation professional tennis.
After Team Jacksonville defeated Team Tampa 205-181 on Saturday, the host squad returned to the court against a fired-up Team Atlanta looking to rebound from their loss to the Challenger Team on Saturday morning.
Here's how the action unfolded:
Men’s Singles: Sam Nicholson Leads the Charge
Team Jacksonville’s Sam Nicholson set the tone early, much like he did against Tampa, with a flurry of two-point winners, and controlled the first Bolt with a commanding 26-15 lead. Nicholson’s aggressive forehand and nimble footwork opened up the court, helping Team Jacksonville stretch the margin.
Substitution strategies came into play during the second Bolt, with Team Atlanta’s Kevin King entering to shift momentum. However, Nicholson continued to dominate with a confident serve and pinpoint placement, pushing the lead to 53-31 by the end of Bolt 2. Analyst Jesse Levine noted, “Sam was confident in the serve. Coach Claudio rode his racehorse, and it paid off.”
Nicholson and relief player Max Benson sealed the win, with Team Jacksonville taking Men’s Singles 73-52.
Women’s Singles: Tanya Sasnouskaya Powers Team Atlanta Comeback
In a tight start, Team Jacksonville’s Annabelle Thomas guided her squad to a 23-20 win in the first Bolt, staying consistent on her backhand and closing at the net with swinging volleys. "We just focused on playing aggressively and one point at a time," said Thomas.
Then came Tanya Sasnouskaya, Team Atlanta’s powerhouse and former NCAA standout. Her bone-crushing forehand and court awareness flipped the momentum. With multiple winners from both sides, Team Atlanta surged ahead 45-41 after the second Bolt.
Despite Thomas returning to face Salma Ewing in the final Bolt, Team Atlanta closed the gap even further with back-to-back dominant Bolts (25-18, 25-18), narrowing the overall margin as Team Atlanta won the Women’s Singles 70-59. “It’s different than what I’m used to,” said Ewing. “But it’s fun, and when we enjoy it, we play our best tennis.”
Mixed Doubles: Team Jacksonville Seals the Deal
Team Jacksonville entered Mixed Doubles with a 132-122 lead and never looked back. Max Benson and Martin Gutierrez dazzled with dynamic shot-making in Men’s Doubles, taking the first Bolt 30-17.
In Women’s Doubles, the momentum continued as Team Jacksonville extended the margin to 50-37, before Annabelle Thomas and Khrystyna Vozniak brought it home.
“I just love playing for my team. It’s not just for me, it’s for them,” said Vozniak. The chemistry and energy carried over to the third Bolt, where Team Jacksonville closed out the match 73-65, taking the team win 205-187 to improve their overall record to 2-0 in the team standings.
As the final ball dropped and fans erupted, Vozniak reflected on what the moment meant: “We love to play fast and we love to play energetic, that is what our coach talks about. It means the world to start on this team and to start our season like this. It’s so bad ass and I’m so proud of my team.”
Up Next:
The season continues next weekend:
● Sat, June 28: 7 PM ET – Jacksonville vs. Atlanta
● Sun, June 29: 2 PM ET – Tampa vs. Atlanta
The full schedule Is available here: INTENNSE Schedule
Limited tickets are available, offering multiple experiences. Further details can be found via the INTENNSE Tickets.
All matches are live-streamed on Twitch @INTENNSE and YouTube.
