ATHENS, Ga. ? Kentucky junior Aibika Kalsarieva overcame a one-set deficit to eliminate Georgia?s 32nd-ranked Shadisha Robinson from the round of 32 at the NCAA Women?s Singles Championships at Georgia?s Dan Magill Tennis Complex. Kalsarieva eliminated the last remaining singles player from the host school, Georgia, by a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 count to advance to Wednesday?s round of 16.
In the opening set, Robinson held serve and immediately broke Kalsarieva?s serve. Robinson and Kalsarieva exchanged service breaks over the next three games before Kalsarieva held serve in the sixth game for a 3-3 tie. Kalsarieva broke Robinson?s serve once more before Robinson broke back to take the next game and held thereafter for a 5-4 lead. Kalsarieva immediately held serve, but Robinson took the next two games for a 7-5 first-set victory despite seven double faults.
In set two, Kalsarieva claimed every point in breaking Robinson?s serve for a 1-0 lead. Robinson broke back and held for a 2-1 lead, though Kalsarieva held in the fourth game for a 2-2 tie. Robinson held in the next game and broke serve for a 4-2 lead. Kalsarieva managed a crucial service break to pull within 4-3, though Robinson broke serve once again for a 5-4 lead.
In the tenth game, Robinson appeared ready to put away an overhead lob, but her left-handed swat landed well beyond the baseline, allowing Kalsarieva to break even. The pair engaged in quite a battle in the set?s pivotal 11th game. Robinson served a 40-15 lead but double faulted and volleyed an errant return to even the game. All told, Kalsarieva saved three game points with the aid of three Robinson double faults on her way to a 6-5 lead. Serving the next game, Kalsarieva yielded only one point and captured the set by a 7-5 count.
Kalsarieva capitalized upon Robinson?s errant serve in the final set?s opening game. Robinson committed two more double faults and fell behind 1-0. Kalsarieva trailed early in the second game but took advantage of four unforced errors by Robinson on her way to a 2-0 lead. Kalsarieva surrendered the initial point in the ensuing game but neutralized Robinson?s serve the rest of the way in taking a 3-0 lead. Robinson broke back in the fourth game and held in the fifth game to slice her deficit to 3-2.
In game six, Kalsarieva took the opening three points and held off a Robinson rally for a 4-2 cushion. Robinson held serve with several well-placed forehands to cut the margin to 4-3. Kalsarieva opened the eighth game with a double fault but took the next four points for a 5-3 lead. Robinson held serve, putting Kalsarieva in a position to serve for the match.
Kalsarieva took the first two points before Robinson answered with a brilliant forehand that just escaped Kalsarieva?s reach. An errant Robinson forehand gave Kalsarieva two match points, the first of which was saved by Robinson with a volley at the net. Robinson?s return of Kalsarieva?s next serve landed well beyond the baseline, giving Kalsarieva the victory in a two-plus hour match.
?Considering all of the factors that go into playing the round of 32 and playing at Georgia in front of someone?s home crowd, this was a really good win for Aibika,? UK Coach Mark Guilbeau said. ?I don?t think either of them would say it was their best tennis, but clearly, it again shows what Aibika and all of our players normally bring to the court: incredible determination and a never-ending effort to pull out matches like that one.?
Kalsarieva becomes the second Wildcat in as many seasons to earn a spot in the singles round of 16 after Sarah Witten did the same in 2003 before losing to eventual national champion Amber Liu of Stanford. Kalsarieva, a 9-16 seed, meets seventh-seeded Amanda Johnson of Duke Wednesday at 10 a.m. EDT. Johnson dealt Kalsarieva a 6-4, 6-3 defeat in the Blue Devils? 6-1 win over the Cats four months ago in Lexington.
An afternoon doubles match pitted Kalsarieva and UK?s Sarah Foster against Michigan?s Michelle DaCosta and Kara Delicata. Foster served Kentucky to an opening-game win in the first set, but Michigan quickly rebounded. The Wolverines held serve in the next game and saved two Kentucky game points in the ensuing game to take a 2-1 lead. Michigan saved two more Kentucky game points to assume a 3-1 lead. Michigan broke the Wildcat serve once more for a 4-1 lead before Kentucky broke serve and held in the following game to slice the deficit to 5-3. The Cats had a chance to further cut the deficit, but Michigan saved a Wildcat game point and closed out the set, 6-3.
Michigan sustained its excellence in the second set. The Wolverines opened the set by taking the first three games before Kentucky managed to cut the deficit to 3-1, but Michigan swept the remainder of the set to eliminate the Cats. Foster and Kalsarieva end the season with a 24-10 overall record.
?I give a lot of credit to Michigan,? Guilbeau said. ?They have improved dramatically. I think a lot more than just one match goes into this. Unfortunately, we didn?t have our best tennis today, but I am certain we?ve learned and understand that the process leading up to it is far more important than just one match. Our next step is to make this process a better one and to get better together so we move well beyond this level. I?m very proud of the girls knowing that this will happen.?
Live scoring for each of Wednesday?s singles and doubles matches can be found at www.georgiadogs.com.
AGATE:
NCAA Women?s Singles ? Round of 32 No. 16 Aibika Kalsarieva (UK) def. No. 32 Shadisha Robinson (UGA) ? 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 Next: Round of 16 – Kalsarieva vs. No. 8 Amanda Johnson (Duke) ? Wednesday, 10 a.m. EDT
NCAA Women?s Doubles ? Round of 32 No. 41 DaCosta-Delicata (UM) def. No. 14 Foster-Kalsarieva (UK) ? 6-3, 6-1
