Oct. 21, 2013

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team has advanced to the finals in the main draw singles competition at the USTA/ITA Regionals hosted by the University of Memphis.

Sophomore and top seed in the tournament Nadia Ravita defeated Vanderbilt’s Marie Casares in a challenging three-set match. Ravita won the first set 6-0 but Casares fought back to win the second set and force a third deciding set. Ravita topped Casares in the third set 6-3 and claimed the match.

In the semifinals, Ravita took down No. 13 seed Ashleigh Antal in a two-set match. Antal, who is also from Vanderbilt, fell to Ravita 6-4, 7-6 (6).

“It was up and down today, but I was able to find a way to win,” Ravita said. “Coach Calhoun really challenged me to play with energy and emotion and I was able to do that in the most important parts of the matches.”

Ravita will face off with Georgina Sellyn who beat Kentucky freshman Aldila Sutjiadi in the quarterfinals. The finals will begin Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

In main draw doubles action, the No. 2 seed duo of Caitlin McGraw and Ravita fell to No. 6 seed Memphis. The Kentucky pair struggled from the beginning of the match and couldn’t find a way to get past Alyssa Hibberd and Caroline Wegner. McGraw and Ravita dropped the match, 8-0.

 
Main Draw Singles
Quarterfinals

Georgina Sellyn (Vanderbilt) def. Aldila Sutjiadi (Kentucky), 6-3, 7-6

Nadia Ravita (Kentucky) def. Marie Casares (Vanderbilt), 6-0, 3-6, 6-3

Main Draw Singles
Semifinals

Nadia Ravita (Kentucky) def. Ashleigh Antal (Vanderbilt), 6-4, 7-6 (6)

Main Draw Doubles
Semifinals

Hibberd, Wegner (Memphis) def. Ravita, McGraw (Kentucky), 8-0