Nov. 8, 2001

After receiving an automatic bid to the ITA National Indoor Championships due to her performance at the Regional Championship, Sarah Witten, a junior on the University of Kentucky women’s tennis team, continued her hot streak in the opening round of the Grand Slam event on Thursday, Nov. 8.

Witten fought back from losing the opening set to defeat Tulsa’s Aleksandra Durska 3-6, 7-6(1), 7-5. Durska, the nation’s 82nd-ranked player, is the fourth ranked player to fall to the Naples, Fla., native this season.

“This is a great confidence-builder for Sarah,” Coach Mark Guilbeau said. “She is getting some big wins on a national stage. This is just one example of how the UK women’s tennis program is moving toward being one of the nation’s elite.”

Witten also received an at-large bid into the doubles competition at the National Indoor Championships. She and partner Carolina Mayorga were able to advance past first-round opponents Urska Juric and Katia Sevcikove of Missouri, 8-4. However, in the round of 16 the nation’s second-ranked team of Bea Bielik and Janet Bergman of Wake Forest defeated the Wildcat duo to end their run.

Witten will continue singles play Friday, Nov. 9, when she will face Houston’s Sarah Borwell at 1 p.m.