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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Kentucky women’s tennis had their second ITA competition of the fall singles and doubles season at the ITA Regional Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., with impressive performances by the tournament’s six seeded junior Julia Zhu and senior Zoe Hammond.
In doubles play, [9] Hammond and freshman Reese Sager picked up two victories in the first and second rounds against Eastern Kentucky’s Ipek and Fedenko (8-2) and Belmont’s Popiol and Webster (8-5), before falling to a Vanderbilt pair. Sophomore pair Marina Fuduric and Asuncion Jadue won their match against eastern Kentucky’s Cherniakova and Parkhomenko (8-6), but withdrew from the next round as Jadue suffered an injury in her singles match.
In singles, Fuduric and freshman Elena Molla both played in the qualifying draw. Fuduric won two three-set matches on Thursday to sneak into the main draw, joining Hammond, Zhu, Jadue, Sager, and senior Ellie Myers.
It was [6] Zhu and [2] Hammond who advanced to the second round, where they both defeated their second singles opponents as well. Zhu defeated Rage of East Tennessee State (6-3, 6-1) in the round of 32, with Hammond defeating Xavier’s DeFord (6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5)).
In the round of 16, Zhu won once again over Vanderbilt’s Webster (6-3, 6-3), showing her strengths all match long. Hammond also defeated a Vanderbilt competitor in Erin Pierce (6-4, 6-4).
Moving onto the quarterfinals, Zhu took down the tournament’s first seeded singles player from the hosting Tennessee Volunteers, Aulia, in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. Hammond unfortunately fell to [8] Yamakita of Vanderbilt, who ended up qualifying for the NCAA Singles Championship as a finalist of the event.
Just won win away from qualifying from the championship herself, Zhu unfortunately gave it all she had against [3] Stammel, but fell short (6-0, 6-0). This was a huge weekend for Zhu, gaining confidence and showing college tennis the skill that she has shown for the Wildcats throughout her collegiate career.
The Wildcats now look towards ITA Sectional Championships, which will be the last chance for Zhu and the rest of the Wildcats to qualify for the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, on Nov. 6-9 in Baton Rouge.
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