University of Georgia
Bulldog Classic
Strong Singles Outing in Day One of Bulldog Classic
November 02, 2018 | Women's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. – A Georgia sweep in singles highlighted the first day of the Bulldog Classic at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on Friday. The Bulldogs tallied eight total singles matches with six coming on the Henry Feild Courts and two inside the Lindsay Hopkins Tennis Complex.
Junior Elena Christofi and freshman Alee Clayton concluded day one with third set victories. After being knotted 5-all in the third set, Clayton held serve to take advantage and eventually broke Sasha Belaya's serve in straight points to clinch a 7-6 (1), 4-6, 7-5 victory over the sophomore from Illinois. Tied at 1-all in the third set, Christofi broke her opponent's serve then held her own on deuce point to go up 3-1. Christofi remained in control through the end to defeat Fighting Illini's Emilee Duong, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
"Good, good tennis," Georgia head coach Jeff Wallace said. "I thought we had chances in both of those matches in the second sets and didn't get them, but you always want your players as the year progresses to win third-set matches and I think that is defining of a team that is going to be right there until the very end and winning things. It is good to see us out there battling in third sets and taking care of business."
The Bulldogs started singles out impressively as all eight courts took their first set. The first players to notch wins were sophomore Katarina Jokic and freshman Lourdes Carle. Jokic, ranked eighth in ITA singles, defeated No. 48-ranked Jaclyn Switkes of Illinois 6-2, 6-0, while Carle, ranked fourth in ITA Freshman/Newcomer rankings, topped Illinois' Daniela Pedraza Novak 6-2, 6-0.
Next, junior No. 76-ranked Marta Gonzalez continued her stellar play with a 6-1, 6-1 win over No. 93-ranked Asuka Kawai (ILL). Gonzalez upped her overall record of 11-2 with now seven ranked wins. Sophomore Vivian Wolff ousted Mia Rabinowitz (ILL), 6-0, 6-3 to improve to 6-2 for the year.
On the indoor courts, sophomores Annette Goulak and Morgan Coppoc secured victories against Illinois' Madeleine Gandawidjaja and Shivani Ingle, respectfully. Leading 4-3, Goulak broke Gandawidjaja's serve to go up 5-4 and then obtained her final point on the last set to win 6-1, 6-4. Coppoc concluded indoor play with her 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ingle, allowing only one break the entire match.
Earlier in the day, doubles was played indoors due to rainy weather.
The 34th-ranked tandem of freshman Lourdes Carle and sophomore Katarina Jokic represented Georgia's sole doubles win with an 8-4 win over the Vanderbilt duo of Christina Rosca and Emily Smith. The Bulldogs broke the Commodores' first serve to take the early 2-0 lead. Georgia obtained another break to go up 5-1, however Vanderbilt broke back, making the score 5-2. Later, Carle secured a game to go up 7-4, while Katarina had the last three hits to seal the 8-4 win.
The Bulldogs' pair of junior Elena Christofi and sophomore Morgan Coppoc fell to Amanda Meyer and Fernanda Contreras of the Commodores by a score of 8-1. In the last doubles match, Georgia's duo of junior Marta Gonzalez and freshman Alee Clayton lost to Vanderbilt's Emma Kurtz and Carolyn Campana, 8-3, after being knotted at 3-all.
The round robin tournament picks back up Saturday at 10 a.m. with doubles leading it off followed by singles and possibly more matches based on coaches' choice. Admission is free. The matches will be on both outside courts, the Henry Field Stadium Courts and the McWhorter Courts, barring weather.
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Bulldog Classic Results
Friday
Doubles
Amanda Meyer/Fernanda Contreras (VU) def. #6 Elena Christofi/Morgan Coppoc (UGA), 8-1
#34 Lourdes Carle/Katarina Jokic (UGA) def. Christina Rosca/Emily Smith (VU), 8-4
Emma Kurtz/Carolyn Campana (VU) def. Marta Gonzalez/Alee Clayton (UGA), 8-3
Singles
#8 Katarina Jokic (UGA) def. #48 Jaclyn Switkes (ILL), 6-2, 6-0
#76 Marta Gonzalez (UGA) def. #93 Asuka Kawai (ILL), 6-1, 6-1
#4 (Fresh/Newcomer) Lourdes Carle (UGA) def. Daniela Pedraza Novak (ILL), 6-2, 6-0
Vivian Wolff (UGA) def. Mia Rabinowitz (ILL), 6-0, 6-3
Elena Christofi (UGA) def. Emilee Duong (ILL) 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
Alee Clayton (UGA) def. Sasha Belaya (ILL), 7-6 (1), 4-6, 7-5
#77 Morgan Coppoc (UGA) def. Shivani Ingle (ILL), 6-4, 6-3
Annette Goulak (UGA) def. Madeleine Gandawidjaja (ILL), 6-1, 6-4
Players Mentioned
