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No. 10 Women’s Tennis claims 4-3 win over No. 12 Ohio State
02.11.2024 | Women's Tennis
The Longhorns earned their second win at this year’s ITA Indoors, making it the fifth-straight year posting two wins at the tournament.
Seattle – No. 10 Texas Women's Tennis (6-2) defeated No. 12 Ohio State (6-3), 4-3, on Sunday in their consolation match at the ITA Team National Indoor Championship in Seattle, Wash.
In earning their second win of the weekend, the Longhorns have now won two matches in each of the last five trips to the tournament. Texas has also reached the quarterfinals in five of the last seven, including the last four (2019, 2021-24), while advancing all the way to the final in 2021.
In the win over the Buckeyes, the Longhorns took the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 2, and followed with singles victories from No. 36 Malaika Rapolu at No. 3, No. 29 Tanya Sasnouskaya at No. 2, and Sabina Zeynalova at No. 1. Zeynalova clinched the match with her three-set win as the score was tied, 3-3, after Texas had led, 3-1.
After winning the doubles point for a 1-0 lead, the Longhorns extended it to 2-0 after Rapolu defeated No. 123 Sydni Ratliff in just 58 minutes at No. 3. Rapolu handed Ratliff a bagel in the first set, only having to go to deuce point once where she held to go up 4-0 before continuing her run to a 6-0 first set win. Rapolu extended her run to 7-0 after breaking Ratliff in the opening game of the second set, but Ratliff answered with a break and a hold to go up 2-1. However, the two games were all she would get as Rapolu went on a 5-0 run to take the second set, 6-2.
In the second singles match to finish, Shelly Berezenyak defeated senior Taisiya Pachkaleva, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 5. Berezenyak broke and held to open with a 2-0 lead in the first set, but Pachkaleva earned a deuce-point hold to make it 2-1. However, Berezenyak responded by going on a 3-0 run and going up, 5-1. Pachkaleva wouldn't go away easily, as she earned consecutive deuce point wins to make it 5-3 before holding again to get within one at 5-4. On the ensuing game, Berezenyak was finally able to deflect Pachkaleva's comeback effort and held serve for a 6-4 first set win. In the second, Pachkaleva opened with a deuce-point hold before Berezenyak did the same to open the set at 1-1. Both players held serve until Berezenyak broke first to go up, 3-2. Pachkaleva responded with a break of her own for 3-3, but Berezenyak proceeded to go on a 3-0 run to close things out and give Ohio State their first point of the night.
Sasnouskaya regained the two-point cushion for Texas less than ten minutes later by defeating No. 73 Luciana Perry, 7-5, 6-4, at No. 2. Sasnouskaya opened the set with a break, hold and a break to take a 3-0 lead, but Perry started to claw her way back afterwards, breaking and then holding to get back within one game at 3-2. Both players took turns holding serve until Perry broke again to tie things at 4-4. The next three games all resulted in breaks, with Sasnouskaya finally holding to take the first set, 7-5. In the second, both players held and then broke each other to make it 2-2. Sasnouskaya went on a 3-0 run afterwards for 5-2, but Perry started to claw her way back, breaking and then holding on a deuce point to make it 5-4. However, Sasnouskaya served out the match in the next game to give Texas its 3-1 lead.
At No. 4, Charlotte Chavatipon fell to Teah Chavez, 7-6 (2), 1-6, 1-6. Chavez opened the first set with a hold and a deuce point break to get a 2-0 jump on Chavatipon. However, Chavatipon answered with a break and hold of her own to tie things up, 2-2. After Chavez held to go up 3-2, Chavatipon went on a 3-0 run to take a 5-3 lead. Chavez won consecutive deuce points to make it 5-4 and 5-5 before holding again to go up 6-5 and put the pressure on Chavatipon, who held serve for 6-6 and force a first-set tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, Chavatipon opened with a 4-0 lead before Chavez managed two consecutive points. However, Chavatipon won the next three and took the first set, 7-6 (2). In the second, it was Chavez who got out to a quick start after a break, hold and a deuce-point break to go up 3-0. Chavatipon managed a deuce-point break in the next game to stop Chavez's momentum briefly for 3-1, but Chavez responded by going on another 3-0 run to close out the second set, 6-1, and force a third set. There, Chavez held and broke to go up 2-0 before Chavatipon broke to make it 2-1. After that, Chavez went on a 4-0 run to close out the set and the match.
On court No. 5, Ovrootsky fell to Audrey Spencer, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 1-6. In the first set, three of the first four games were decided by deuce points, with Spenser winning all three and taking a 3-1 lead. Ovrootsky responded by going on a 3-0 run that included a deuce-point hold for 4-3. Both players took turns holding serve before Ovrootsky broke while up 5-4 to earn a first set victory. In the second set, Spencer broke to open with a 1-0 lead before Ovrootsky broke right back and then held to go up 2-1. Spencer earned a deuce-point hold in the next game to even things, 2-2, before Ovrootsky went on a 3-0 run for a 5-2 lead that included a deuce-point break for 4-2. Spencer clawed back by holding twice and breaking once to knot it up, 5-5. Both players held serve on their ensuing games to force a 6-6 score and a second set tiebreaker. After Ovrootsky took the opening point in the breaker, Spencer went on a 4-0 run. Both players traded points until Spencer went up, 6-3. Ovrootsky took the next two points to get back within one at 6-5, but Spencer grabbed the following point and got the win to force a third set. There, Spencer held and then broke on consecutive deuce points to go up 2-0 as part of what would become a 5-0 run in which she won three duce points. Ovrootsky managed to hold serve for 5-1, but Spencer held for the match on the next game.
With the overall score knotted, 3-3, it all came down to Zeynalova and No. 14 Irina Cantos Siemers on No. 1. Zeynalova prevailed, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in a thrilling match that took over three hours to give Texas the win. Both players broke and then held to open the first set for 2-2 before Zeynalova broke and then held on consecutive deuce points to take a 4-2 lead. After that, both players took turns holding serve until Zeynalova was able to hold for the first set, 6-4. The second started the same way with both players breaking each other and then holding for a 2-2 score. Cantos Siemers held and then broke to go up 4-2 before Zeynalova broke for 4-3. Cantos Siemers broke on a deuce point to go up 5-3 before serving out the set. In the decisive third set, Zeynalova opened with a hold and a break to take a 2-0 lead before Cantos Siemers broke right back on a deuce point for 2-1. Zeynalova answered with a deuce-point break to make it 3-1, but Cantos Siemers broke and held for 3-3. Zeynalova responded by holding and earning a big deuce-point break to go up 5-3. Zeynalova then served out the match, giving Texas the 4-3 victory.
Earlier in doubles, the tandem of Rapolu and Sasnouskaya swiftly defeated Akanksah Bhan and Cantos Siemers, 6-1, at No. 2. Both teams held their first service games, but after Texas held again to go up 2-1, they never looked back. The Longhorns broke for a 3-1 lead and closed out the match on a 5-0 run without ever having to go to a deuce point.
Just one minute later, on court No. 1, the No. 37 pair of Pachkaleva and Zeynalova defeated No. 24 Ratliff and Perry, 6-2. Texas opened with a 5-0 run that included a deuce-point break to put them up, 5-0. Ohio State attempted to rally and managed a hold and a deuce-point break to make the score 5-2, but it was too late as Texas closed it out in the ensuing game with a break of their own.
On court No. 3, the duo of Ovrootsky and Chavatipon were trailing 3-4 to Madeline Atway and Chavez when play was stopped.
The Longhorns now return home to face No. 14 Auburn on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Texas Tennis Center.
#10 Texas 4, #12 Ohio State 3
Singles – Order of Finish (3,5,2,4,6,1)
1. Sabina Zeynalova (TEXAS) def. #14 Irina Cantos Siemers (OHST) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
2. #29 Tanya Sasnouskaya (TEXAS) def. #73 Luciana Perry (OHST) 7-5, 6-4
3. #36 Malaika Rapolu (TEXAS) def. #123 Sydni Ratliff (OHST) 6-0, 6-2
4. Teah Chavez (OHST) def. #120 Charlotte Chavatipon (TEXAS) 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-1
5. Shelly Bereznyak (OHST) def. Taisiya Pachkaleva (TEXAS) 6-4, 6-3
6. Audrey Spencer (OHST) def. Vivian Ovrootsky (TEXAS) 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1
Doubles – Order of Finish (2,1)
1. #37 Taisiya Pachkaleva/Sabina Zeynalova (TEXAS) def. #24 Sydni Ratliff/Luciana Perry (OHST) 6-2
2. Malaika Rapolu/Tanya Sasnouskaya (TEXAS) def. Irina Cantos Siemers/Akanksha Bhan (OHST) 6-1
3. Charlotte Chavatipon/Vivian Ovrootsky (TEXAS) vs. Madeline Atway/Teah Chavez (OHST) 3-4, unf.
Players Mentioned
