North Texas Ekes by USF Women’s Tennis in the Season Opener

Friday, January 19

Tampa, Fla.

Noon

University of South Florida

North Texas

North Texas Ekes by USF Women’s Tennis in the Season Opener

January 19, 2018 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

The Bulls fell to the Mean Green 4-3 in a tight match coming down the last set

TAMPA (Jan. 19, 2018)— The USF women's tennis team started its season on Friday at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts with a tough loss to North Texas.

Freshman Evelyne Tiron (Romania) defeated North Texas' Nidhi Surapaneni, 6-1, 7-5, marking her first singles win as a Bull. Junior Nicole Dzenga (Harare, Zimbabwe) also won in singles, 7-6(5), 6-3.

On court one, Ana Roman Dominguez (Spain) fell in a close match to No.41 Junior Maria Kononova, 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-4. It came down to the last set point which ended in favor of North Texas.

In doubles, Dzenga and Vanja Klaric (Serbia) secured the first match point, 6-2, on court two against Nidhi Surapaneni and Minying Liang. Alexandria Mjos and Ana Roman Dominguez also won, 6-1 in the three spot.

Klaric, Juliana Cardoso (Descalvado, Brazil), and Jessica Cortes Chaves (Monterrey, Mexico) also lost to their opponents in singles.

"Defintely a tough one today. To go out in your first match and lose 4-3, but that is the best that we've started in the past two years," said head coach Cristina Moros. "I'm very hopeful and I'm glad that we went through this battle, because I know that it's just going to make us better as the season goes on."

Results
Singles competition
1. #41 Maria Kononova (NT) def. #97 Ana Roman (USF) 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-4
2. Tamuna Kutubidze (NT) def. Jessica Chaves (USF) 6-0, 6-1
3. Minying Liang (NT) def. Juliana Cardoso (USF) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Evelyne Tiron (USF) def. Nidhi Surapaneni (NT) 6-1, 7-5
5. Haruka Sasaki (NT) def. Vanja Klaric (USF) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
6. Nicole Dzenga (USF) def. Alexandra Heczey (NT) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Jessica Chaves/Juliana Cardoso (USF) vs. Maria Kononova/Tamuna Kutubidze (NT) 1-5, unfinished
2. Nicole Dzenga/Vanja Klaric (USF) def. Nidhi Surapaneni/Minying Liang (NT) 6-2
3. Alexandria Mjos/Ana Roman (USF) def. Alexandra Heczey/Haruka Sasaki (NT) 6-1

Match Notes: North Texas 1-0 University of South Florida 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,4,6,5,3,1)

Box Score

Up Next:
USF will stay home to face No. 15 South Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 21 at noon.

Be sure to follow USF women's tennis on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. Head coach Cristina Moros will be in her third year at the helm of after leading the program to an American Athletic Conference Championship in 2017.

– #GoBulls –