The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
TCU
No. 22 Women's Tennis defeats TCU, 4-2, advances to Big 12 semifinals
04.25.2014 | Women's Tennis
Longhorns take on second-seeded Oklahoma State on Saturday at 3 p.m. Central
FORT WORTH, Texas – Third-seeded Texas (12-11) collected singles victories from Neda Koprcina, Lina Padegimaite, Breaunna Addison and Ratnika Batra as the Longhorns defeated sixth-seeded host TCU by a 4-2 count Friday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championships.
Texas advances to Saturday's semifinals where it will take on second-seeded Oklahoma State. First serve is set for 3 p.m. Central. The Longhorns have advanced to the semifinals or beyond at all 18 Big 12 Championships.
TCU won doubles contests at the first and third positions to win the doubles point and assume a 1-0 lead. TCU's Mimi Fotopoulos and Simona Parajova broke for a 5-2 lead over UT's Juliana Gajic and Pippa Horn at third doubles and finished off an 8-2 win.
TCU's Stefanie Tan and Seda Arantekin broke UT's Breaunna Addison and Elizabeth Begley in their first three service games at first doubles and won by an 8-2 count to close out the doubles session. UT's Ratnika Batra and Neda Koprcina held a 5-4 lead over TCU's Millie Nichols and Monika Sirilova at second doubles before the match was called.
Texas evened the tally at one when TCU's Sirilova retired at fourth singles with her match against UT's Koprcina knotted at three. UT's Padegimaite overpowered TCU's Nichols at sixth singles and won by a 6-3, 6-0 count to give the Longhorns a 2-1 lead.
The Horned Frogs' Parajova dealt UT's Begley a 6-3, 6-3 defeat at second singles to even the match at two. The match at first singles featured UT's Addison and TCU's Tan, the only player to force a third set against Addison in Big 12 play this season. Addison, however, made short work of Tan Friday afternoon. Addison broke Tan for a 5-3 first-set lead and held serve in the following game to take the set, 6-3.
Tan broke Addison to even the second set at three, but Addison broke Tan's serve, held serve and broke Tan once more to close out a 6-3, 6-3 win and give Texas a 3-2 lead.
The match at third singles between UT's Batra and TCU's Sofiko Kadzhaya progressed in similar fashion. Batra broke Kadzhaya for a 5-3 first-set lead and held serve to closed out the set. Batra broke for a 5-4 second-set lead and held at-love in the ensuing game to close out the set and the 4-2 victory for Texas. The match at fifth singles was suspended.
POST-MATCH COMMENTS
Texas head coach Patty Fendick-McCain
On the win
We had a slow start in doubles, but I'm just really proud of these guys. They knew what was at stake today. I'm really proud of the way they rose to the occasion. I told them you should never doubt yourself at this point because that's about as much pressure as you can play under.
Bree (Addison) was really solid at the top (of the singles lineup). Elizabeth (Begley) battled at No. 2. It was great to get two wins quickly at Nos. 5 and 6 (singles). Lina Padegimaite stepped up and played a great match, and that was awesome to see. Ratnika (Batra) clinched and I'm certain Pippa (Horn) would have finished out that last match.
On Ratnika Batra's clinching win
We've talked about body language and about believing in yourself and not letting the little things annoy you to the point where you lose your focus. She managed to get back on track in the second set. Ratnika made little adjustments here and there and just rolled with it.
On Breaunna Addison's unblemished record against Big 12 foes this season
Bree is a great competitor. She competes harder than anybody I've coached. For her to be focused when she's not playing as well as she'd like and compete that hard…the numbers just speak for themselves.
No. 22 Texas 4, TCU 2
Big 12 Championships - Quarterfinals
Doubles - Order of Finish: 3, 1
1 Stefanie Tan/Seda Arantekin (TCU) def. Breaunna Addison/Elizabeth Begley (UT) – 8-2
2 Ratnika Batra/Neda Koprcina (UT) vs. Millie Nichols/Monika Sirilova (TCU) – 5-4, susp.
3 Mimi Fotopoulos/Simona Parajova (TCU) def. Juliana Gajic/Pippa Horn (UT) – 8-2
Singles – Order of Finish: 4, 6, 2, 1, 3
1 No. 15 Breaunna Addison (UT) def. No. 38 Stefanie Tan (TCU) – 6-3, 6-3
2 Simona Parajova (TCU) def. No. 120 Elizabeth Begley (UT) – 6-3, 6-3
3 Ratnika Batra (UT) def. Sofiko Kadzhaya (TCU) – 6-3, 6-4
4 Neda Koprcina (UT) def. Monika Sirilova (TCU) – 3-3, retired
5 Pippa Horn (UT) vs. Mimi Fotopoulos (TCU) – 7-5, 2-3, susp.
6 Lina Padegimaite (UT) def. Millie Nichols (TCU) – 6-3, 6-0
