The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women’s Tennis’ Rapolu wins singles title at ITA Texas Regionals
10.16.2023 | Women's Tennis
Malaika Rapolu topped teammate Charlotte Chavatipon in the all Texas singles final, while Tanya Sasnouskaya and Sabina Zeynalova finished as doubles runners-up in Waco on Monday.
Waco, Texas – Texas Women's Tennis senior No. 99 Malaika Rapolu won the main draw singles title at the ITA Texas Regionals in Waco on Monday. It marks the 13th consecutive year head coach Howard Joffe has had a singles finalist or winner in the tournament with nine straight at Texas and the previous four at Texas A&M.
Rapolu, who had been the 4 seed, defeated teammate and 3 seed No. 74 Charlotte Chavatipon in the final, 6-4, 6-2. The Longhorns also had the second-seeded doubles duo of graduate Tanya Sasnouskaya and junior Sabina Zeynalova finish as the runners-up in that main draw after falling to top-seeded No. 15 Metka Komac and Avelina Sayfetdinova of Texas Tech, 7-5, 6-2, in the final.
In the singles match, Rapolu broke in the opening game and then held on a deuce point for a 2-0 lead. Leading 3-1, she had another break opportunity on a deuce point, but Chavatipon was able to hold for 3-2. Rapolu did break again two games later for 5-2, however Chavatipon broke back and held to get within 5-4 before Rapolu served out the set, 6-4. In the second, the first four games all went to deuce, and the first three of those were breaks, starting with Rapolu. In the fourth, Rapolu held for a 3-1 lead, and followed with a break and another for 5-1. The last two games then stayed on serve to the final.
In the doubles final, Sasnouskaya and Zeynalova opened with a 3-0 lead after a deuce-point break in the second game. They also pushed the next Texas Tech service game to deuce, but the Red Raiders held to start a 3-0 run of their own. After the Longhorns held for 4-3, they had another chance at a deuce-point break, but Komac and Sayfetdinova were able to hold to even it. The next two games were also on serve until Texas Tech broke for a 6-5 lead and then held for the set, 7-5. In the second, the first four games were on serve, but the Red Raiders closed on a 5-0 run for the 6-2 win.
UT had also made the final of the doubles consolation draw with the 3 seed of Rapolu and sophomore Vivian Ovrootsky, however they conceded the match against 4 seed Federica Trevisan and Chie Kezuka of Rice in a walkover due to an injury to Ovrootsky.
The Longhorns will return to the courts for various futures events before the ITA National Fall Championships are played in San Diego starting on November 1.
2023 ITA Texas Regionals
Tournament Central
Singles Main Draw Final – Monday, October 16
4 seed #99 Malaika Rapolu (UT) def. 3 seed #74 Charlotte Chavatipon (UT), 6-4, 6-2
Doubles Main Draw Final – Monday, October 16
1 seed #15 Metka Komac/Avelina Sayfetdinova (TT) def. 2 seed Tanya Sasnouskaya/Sabina Zeynalova (UT), 7-5, 6-2
Doubles Consolation Draw Final – Monday, October 16
4 seed Federica Trevisan/Chie Kezuka (Rice) def. 3 seed Malaika Rapolu/Vivian Ovrootsky (UT), walkover
Players Mentioned
