The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
No. 10 Women’s Tennis edged by No. 3 Oklahoma State, 4-3
02.10.2024 | Women's Tennis
The Longhorns trailed, 3-0, and rallied to push the Cowgirls all the way to a third-set tiebreaker in the final singles match but came up just short.
Seattle – No. 10 Texas Women's Tennis (5-2) fell to No. 3 Oklahoma State (7-0), 4-3, on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the ITA Team National Indoor Championship in Seattle, Wash. The Longhorns trailed, 3-0, and rallied to push the Cowgirls all the way to a third-set tiebreaker in the final singles match but came up just short.
Oklahoma State took the doubles point with wins on No. 1 and 2. In singles play, Texas got victories from senior No. 36 Malaika Rapolu at No. 3, junior Sabina Zeynalova at No. 1, and sophomore Vivian Ovrootsky on No. 5.
After Oklahoma State earned the doubles point, court No. 6 was the first to finish with senior Taisiya Pachkaleva falling to Kristina Novak 6-1, 6-3. In the first set, Novak opened with a 5-0 run before Pachkaleva held serve for 5-1, but Novak answered with a hold of her own to close out the first set, 6-1. Pachkaleva got off to a better start in the second set, holding each of her first two service games to take a 2-1 lead. However, Novak went on a 3-0 run to take a 4-2 lead. Pachkaleva held serve for 4-3, but Novak answered with a hold and a deuce-point break to take the second set 6-3.
Oklahoma State established a 3-0 lead after graduate No. 29 Tanya Sasnouskaya fell to No. 5 Ange Oby Kajuru, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 2. Sasnouskaya held her first two service games to go up 2-1 in the first set, but Kajuru went on a 5-0 run that included deuce-point wins for 3-2 and 5-2 before she held serve to close out the first set, 6-2. In the second, both players broke to open the set, 1-1. Kajuru then broke again and held to go up 3-1 before Sasnouskaya answered with a hold for 3-2. However, Kajuru sest out on a 3-0 run to close out the set and take the match.
Down 3-0, Texas began to rally. On No. 3, Rapolu gave Texas its first point with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 54 Lucia Peyre. Rapolu cruised to a 4-0 lead to open the first set, and although Peyre managed to break for 4-1, Rapolu won the next two games to take the first set. Rapolu broke and held to get off to a 2-0 lead in the second set, but Peyre responded by going on a 4-0 run. However, Rapolu quickly found her groove again and went on her own 4-0 run that included two deuce-point wins for 3-4 and 5-4 to take the match in straight sets.
A few mintues later at No. 1, Zeynalova defeated No. 17 Anistasiya Komar 6-3, 6-4. After both women held serve to open the first set, 1-1, Zeynalova went on a 4-0 run and took a 5-1 lead. The run included a big deuce-point break to put Zeynalova up 3-1. Down 5-1, Komar managed a deuce-point break and a hold to make it 5-3, but Zeynalova held in the next game to close out the first set, 6-3. In the second, Zeynalova found herself in a back-and-forth battle, with neither player allowing a break through the first eight games. After Zeynalova held with a deuce-point victory for 4-4, she followed by earning a deuce-point break to go up 5-4 and then held in the ensuing game to take the second set, 6-4, and the match. Zeynalova's win gave the Longhorns their second point of the overall match and made it 3-2.
Not long after on court No. 5, Ovrootsky earned a 6-1, 7-6 (3) victory over Amiya Miyamoto to tie things up at 3-3. Ovrootsky cruised to a first-set win after opening things up with a 4-0 run. Miyamoto managed a deuce-point hold to make it 4-1, but Ovrootsky took the next two games to win, 6-1. In the second set, it was Miyamoto who opened with a 4-0 run. While it appeared a third set was likely, Ovrootsky responded with a 4-0 run of her own to tie it, 4-4. Her run included a deuce-point break for 4-2. After both players held in the ensuing games, Miyamoto broke for 6-5, however Ovrootsky answered the break to force a tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, Miyamoto got out to a 3-2 lead, but Ovrootsky once again rose to the challenge and went on a 5-0 run to close out the match and give Texas its third point of the day.
With the score knotted, 3-3, the match came down to a thrilling, nearly three-hour long match between senior No. 120 Charlotte Chavatipon and No. 122 Safiya Carrington. In the first set, Chavatipon held on a deuce point to tie things at 1-1 before winning the next two games. Both players took turns holding serve until Carrington earned a deuce-point break and then a hold to tie things, 4-4. Chavatipon later earned a deuce-point hold to go up 6-5 and managed to break to avoid a tiebreaker and take the first set, 7-5. In the second set, Chavatipon got out to a much faster start and quickly found herself up 4-0. Not to be outdone, Carrington answered with her own 4-0 run and tied things up at 4-4. Chavatipon managed to get back on track by breaking to regain the lead, 5-4, but Carrington answered with her own break and hold as part of a 3-0 run to take a 7-5 victory in the second set.
In the third and final set, Chavatipon earned a big deuce-point hold to tie things at 1-1 before breaking and holding on a deuce point again to go up 3-1. She had another deuce-point opportunity. In the next game, but Carrington fended it off for 3-2. Both players continued to hold serve from there, leaving Chavatipon with an opportunity to serve for the match with a 5-4 lead. Carrington managed to break to keep the match alive, but Chavatipon broke right back to go up, 6-5, and serve for the match for a second time. Once again, Carrington managed to break and equalize to force a tiebreaker on the strength of an overruled call against Chavatipon that was her second, resulting in a point penalty and providing Carrington a 1-0 lead in the breaker. That began a 6-0 for Carrington before Chavatipon collected consecutive points for 6-2. However, Carrington served for the match and won the next point, giving Oklahoma State the victory.
Earlier in doubles, the tandem of Chavatipon and Ovrootsky finished first by taking down Carrington and Novak, 6-2 at No. 3. Texas held their first two service games on deuce-point wins, and Oklahoma State held on their first two service games, as well, for 2-2. After that, Texas went on a 4-0 run to close out the match.
Moments later on court No. 1, the No. 37 duo of Pachkaleva and Zeynalova fell to the No. 13 pair of Komar and Kajuru, 6-3. Both teams held on deuce points to open the match at 1-1. Oklahoma State broke to go up 3-1, but Texas answered it for 3-2. The Cowgirls won the next two games, including a big deuce-point hold for a 5-2 lead. Texas held on the ensuing game for 5-3, but Oklahoma State followed by serving out the match, 6-3.
In the deciding match, Sasnouskaya and Rapolu fell to Miyamoto and Raquel Gonzalez, 6-2, at No. 2. Texas held on a deuce point to open up the match, but Oklahoma State responded by going on a 5-0 run, including deuce-point wins for 2-1 and 4-1. Texas earned a deuce-point win for 5-2, but Oklahoma State closed it out in the next game for the doubles point.
The Longhorns will next take on the No. 12 Ohio State in a consolation match on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. CT.
#10 Texas 3, #3 Oklahoma State 4
Singles – Order of Finish (6,2,3,1,5,4)
1. Sabina Zeynalova (TEXAS) def. #17 Anastasiya Komar (OSUW) 6-3, 6-4
2. #5 Ange Oby Kajuru (OSUW) def. #29 Tanya Sasnouskaya (TEXAS) 6-2, 6-2
3. #36 Malaika Rapolu (TEXAS) def. #54 Lucia Peyre (OSUW) 6-1, 6-4
4. #122 Safiya Carrington (OSUW) def. #120 Charlotte Chavatipon (TEXAS) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (2)
5. Vivian Ovrootsky (TEXAS) def. #46 Ayumi Miyamoto (OSUW) 6-1, 7-6 (3)
6. Kristina Novak (OSUW) def. Taisiya Pachkaleva (TEXAS) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles – Order of Finish (3,1,2)
1. #13 Anastasiya Komar/Ange Oby Kajuru (OSUW) def. #37 Taisiya Pachkaleva/Sabina Zeynalova (TEXAS) 6-3
2. Ayumi Miyamoto/Raquel Gonzalez (OSUW) def. Tanya Sasnouskaya/Malaika Rapolu (TEXAS) 6-2
3. Charlotte Chavatipon/Vivian Ovrootsky (TEXAS) def. Safiya Carrington/Kristina Novak (OSUW) 6-2
Players Mentioned
