Senior Mahmoud Hamed will have a chance to end his college tennis career on a good note.

In its last regular season match, the No. 44 South Florida men’s tennis team (11-8) defeated Marquette (16-7) 4-3 on Monday at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.

Hamed may be playing his last college match when the Bulls host the Big East championships Thursday through Sunday. He isn’t sure whether he’ll make the NCAA
championships.

Hamed lost his singles match to Marquette’s Niko Boulieris 6-2 and 6-4, and Hamed and Jamal Adderley lost their doubles match 8-9.

“Not good,” Hamed said. “I wanted to win my last match, but there’s still the Big East.”

During his two years at USF, Hamed has a 35-21 dual match singles record. As a senior, he has the Bulls’ best singles record at 14-5, and has won nine of his last 13 matches.

USF coach Don Barr honored Hamed at Monday’s match.

“(Hamed) has been a real factor,” Barr said. “He always does what he’s asked … He fights and hates to lose. He worries about it constantly. Over the summer, he called me from Egypt worrying about some things on his serve and return. It shows that he cares, and that’s what you want from players.”

The native of Cairo, Egypt, plans to return home after graduation this semester.

“I’m going to see what I can do a little bit, professionally,” Hamed said.

Junior Thomas Estrada did not play Monday due to an injured wrist. Sophomore Romain Deridder substituted for Estrada as Lucas Jovita’s doubles partner. The two lost 9-7. Deridder also won his singles match 6-3 and 6-2.

Estrada will play in the Big East championships.

“I just have to be focused in the tournament,” Estrada said. “I’ve just been hitting my
forehand this week, so I’ve got to prepare my backhand.”