Claire Bartlett opens play this morning in the IcyHot Tennessee Valley Open Championships tennis tournament as the fourth seed in the women’s open division.

And as a University of Florida player, not a Virginia Cavalier.

The three-time Tennessee high school champion from GPS has transferred to the Southeastern Conference school where her grandfather, Tommy Bartlett, was basketball coach from 1966 to ’73.

After getting a release from Virginia in late April, Claire contacted Georgia and Florida, both of which had been high on her list when she committed to the Cavaliers as a GPS junior. She recently signed with the Gators.

“She couldn’t have made a mistake going to either one,” Tommy Bartlett said. “Both Florida and Georgia are probably going to be in the top 10 next year, and I like both coaches. But we like to visit Florida, so now we can work out some trips to see her play.”

Claire admitted that she had an affinity for Florida growing up.

“That definitely had an effect,” she said. “I wasn’t brought up to cheer for Georgia. And I just felt like I knew the coach (Roland Thornqvist) a little better.”

She will be attending Florida’s June 24-Aug. 7 summer session, so the TVOC is her last tournament before going to Gainesville. This is her third year to play in the Manker Patten event.

Claire had a run of bad luck last fall, with two surgeries for an infection, another illness and a week in a walking boot after tripping on a ball in practice at Virginia.

“It was not a fun fall, and that made the spring really hard because I was still recovering and trying to catch up,” she said. “When it came down to it, though, I decided I wanted to be at a sports school. I wanted to play in the SEC.

“I’m really excited. I can’t wait to get down there.”