The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Anna Turati vs. Anna Sanford [Ohio State] (NCAA Singles Round of 64)
Anna Turati advances to second round at NCAA Championships
05.23.2018 | Women's Tennis
Anna Turati needs only one more win to secure All-America honors.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Texas sophomore Anna Turati registered a straight-sets victory and advanced to the second round of the women's singles draw Wednesday at the NCAA Championships.
The 30th-ranked Turati took on Ohio State's 57th-ranked Anna Sanford in the opening round. Turati yielded nothing in the first set and claimed the set, 6-0. The second set progressed to a tiebreaker where Turati prevailed, 7-3 to advance to the tournament's second round. Turati will meet Florida's 9-16 seed Anna Danilina on Thursday (start time TBD).
"Anna definitely competed well this morning but didn't quite have her range and feel to the degree she is ordinarily accustomed," said UT head coach Howard Joffe. "Nonetheless, to advance in this field is a huge achievement. Tomorrow, she will need to be sharper against a very strong player from Florida."
Top seed Bianca Turati met Pepperdine's 27th-ranked Luisa Stefani in the first round. The first set progressed to a tiebreaker where Stefani prevailed, 8-6. Stefani led 4-2 in the second set, but Turati took the ensuing four games and closed out a 6-4 second-set win to prolong the match.
Turati broke Stefani for a 3-1 third-set lead, but Stefani claimed the next five games to close out the set and a three-set win.
"One can't help but feel for Bianca," Joffe said. "She ran into another top player. Bianca did any and everything short of winning the match. She had set points in the first set. She later came back from 4-2, love-30 in the second set and finally led 3-1 in the deciding set. Her heart and skill made me very proud. The NCAA tournament will still have Bianca to reckon with for another two seasons."
Bianca Turati will earn singles All-America honors by way of her seeding in the NCAA singles draw. Anna Turati can lock up an All-America honor on Thursday with a victory over Florida's Danilina.
NCAA Championships – Women's Singles First Round (Round of 64)
No. 30 Anna Turati (UT) def. No. 57 Anna Sanford (Ohio State), 6-0, 7-6 (3)
No. 27 Luisa Stefani (Pepperdine) def. No. 1 Bianca Turati (UT), 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-3
Players Mentioned
