University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
Vidmanova Is Taking Control
May 11, 2024 | Women's Tennis, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Earlier this season, Dasha Vidmanova did something extraordinary, rallying from 5-1 down in the third set against the No. 1 player in the country and lifting the Georgia women's tennis team to a thrilling 4-3 win over Texas A&M. "I don't think I'll forget that match ever," she said a couple of days later.
The 6-foot-3 junior has been almost unbeatable since.
"I think I've definitely improved so much this year. Even since the start of this semester, I think I've taken a step up. I'm playing very good and very confident, so I'm happy about that," said Vidmanova, who is ranked No. 16 in singles and No. 14 in doubles with partner Aysegul Mert.
In the 14 matches Vidmanova has played since that miraculous March 15 comeback victory over Mary Stoiana, winning 7-6 in the third set, she has lost just once, a tough three-setter to Auburn's Carolyn Ansari, an All-American in 2023, on March 31. In her past 10 matches, Vidmanova has seven straight-set victories — winning 10 sets by a score of 6-2, 6-1 or 6-0 during that run — and three matches that weren't completed because Georgia clinched the team win.
"She just keeps picking up momentum, and she's managing the stage and the situation really well," Georgia head coach Drake Bernstein said. "When she's on, she's hard to beat."
The seventh-ranked Bulldogs are far from a one-woman team, with numerous players having excellent seasons, but it's probably not a coincidence that the last time Vidmanova lost is also the last time that the Bulldogs came up short in a match. Georgia is now 23-4 and has won 10 in a row. The Bulldogs will face No. 2 Stanford, winners of 11 straight, in the NCAA quarterfinals next Friday in Stillwater, Okla.
"She's one of my best friends, so when I see Dasha, I'm inspired," teammate Mell Reasco said. "She's doing very good, she's playing the No. 1 spot which is very difficult, and she's going there and doing her game and trusting herself. I'm very proud of her."
During No. 7 Georgia's hard-fought 4-2 win over No. 10 California in a Super Regional on Friday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, Vidmanova was sharp and clutch when the pressure was on in doubles and dominant in singles.
"I think, personally, that I played very well. I was trying to stay focused and play from start to finish, and I think I did that," she said. "Everyone else had a strong start in singles after we won the doubles, and getting the lead in the beginning definitely helped."
There's a sound, a flat boom, produced by every Vidmanova first serve, that is different from her opponents'. Then again, Vidmanova, given her size and power, is different from most players at the top of women's collegiate tennis.
Vidmanova's serve, when it's dialed in, is one of the most effective weapons in the sport. And these days, her serve and the rest of her game are usually rolling. Getting Vidmanova to use and make the most of her size and power have been points of emphasis since she arrived at Georgia, Bernstein said.
A year ago, Vidmanova went 17-3 playing No. 2 singles for Georgia — Lea Ma was the Bulldogs' No. 1 player — and reached as high as No. 4 in the ITA rankings. She started her junior year ranked No. 6 before suffering some early losses. Her record for the year is 21-7, and it's probably safe to say that her current ranking doesn't reflect her form as the Bulldogs head to Oklahoma State for the NCAA quarterfinals and then the singles and doubles championships.
As hot as Vidmanova is in singles, winning seven straight completed matches, she and Mert are 9-2 in their past 11 completed doubles matches. Like Vidmanova in the NCAA singles draw, Georgia's top duo could be a real threat in the doubles tournament later this month.
On Friday, after the doubles matches on courts two and three split, the doubles point and 1-0 lead heading into singles would be decided at the No. 1 spot. Vidmanova and Mert delivered the clinching win, beating Jessica Alsola and Valentina Ivanov in an epic deciding match, 7-6 (7-5).
Down 6-5 and on serve, Vidmanova produced an easy service game to force a tiebreaker. Down 0-2 early, Vidmanova flashed some very quick hands on volleys on shots hit right at her at the net, drawing even. A couple of big Mert shots put Georgia ahead, and soon after, the Bulldogs had the win and lead entering singles.
Vidmanova wasted little time or effort in her 6-2, 6-3 takedown of the No. 43-ranked Ivanov at No. 1 singles. Her big serve got her a lot of easy points, and her powerful groundstrokes either moved Ivanov off the baseline or pushed her off to the side. Vidmanova's win put Georgia ahead 2-0, and the Bulldogs also got victories from Guillermina Grant at No. 5 and Reasco at No. 3 to clinch the victory.
"I think that's the one that really set the tone after a tight doubles point," Bernstein said of Vidmanova's win.
As for Vidmanova, she knows that while the recent results have been excellent, there is always room for improvement, and the matches and opponents are only going to get more difficult
"There are always things that I can work on and try to improve, but I think I'm playing really well," Vidmanova said. "I know there are things I want to work on in practice and hopefully do even better in Stillwater."
Staff Writer
Earlier this season, Dasha Vidmanova did something extraordinary, rallying from 5-1 down in the third set against the No. 1 player in the country and lifting the Georgia women's tennis team to a thrilling 4-3 win over Texas A&M. "I don't think I'll forget that match ever," she said a couple of days later.
The 6-foot-3 junior has been almost unbeatable since.
"I think I've definitely improved so much this year. Even since the start of this semester, I think I've taken a step up. I'm playing very good and very confident, so I'm happy about that," said Vidmanova, who is ranked No. 16 in singles and No. 14 in doubles with partner Aysegul Mert.
In the 14 matches Vidmanova has played since that miraculous March 15 comeback victory over Mary Stoiana, winning 7-6 in the third set, she has lost just once, a tough three-setter to Auburn's Carolyn Ansari, an All-American in 2023, on March 31. In her past 10 matches, Vidmanova has seven straight-set victories — winning 10 sets by a score of 6-2, 6-1 or 6-0 during that run — and three matches that weren't completed because Georgia clinched the team win.
"She just keeps picking up momentum, and she's managing the stage and the situation really well," Georgia head coach Drake Bernstein said. "When she's on, she's hard to beat."
The seventh-ranked Bulldogs are far from a one-woman team, with numerous players having excellent seasons, but it's probably not a coincidence that the last time Vidmanova lost is also the last time that the Bulldogs came up short in a match. Georgia is now 23-4 and has won 10 in a row. The Bulldogs will face No. 2 Stanford, winners of 11 straight, in the NCAA quarterfinals next Friday in Stillwater, Okla.
"She's one of my best friends, so when I see Dasha, I'm inspired," teammate Mell Reasco said. "She's doing very good, she's playing the No. 1 spot which is very difficult, and she's going there and doing her game and trusting herself. I'm very proud of her."
During No. 7 Georgia's hard-fought 4-2 win over No. 10 California in a Super Regional on Friday afternoon at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, Vidmanova was sharp and clutch when the pressure was on in doubles and dominant in singles.
"I think, personally, that I played very well. I was trying to stay focused and play from start to finish, and I think I did that," she said. "Everyone else had a strong start in singles after we won the doubles, and getting the lead in the beginning definitely helped."
There's a sound, a flat boom, produced by every Vidmanova first serve, that is different from her opponents'. Then again, Vidmanova, given her size and power, is different from most players at the top of women's collegiate tennis.
Vidmanova's serve, when it's dialed in, is one of the most effective weapons in the sport. And these days, her serve and the rest of her game are usually rolling. Getting Vidmanova to use and make the most of her size and power have been points of emphasis since she arrived at Georgia, Bernstein said.
A year ago, Vidmanova went 17-3 playing No. 2 singles for Georgia — Lea Ma was the Bulldogs' No. 1 player — and reached as high as No. 4 in the ITA rankings. She started her junior year ranked No. 6 before suffering some early losses. Her record for the year is 21-7, and it's probably safe to say that her current ranking doesn't reflect her form as the Bulldogs head to Oklahoma State for the NCAA quarterfinals and then the singles and doubles championships.
As hot as Vidmanova is in singles, winning seven straight completed matches, she and Mert are 9-2 in their past 11 completed doubles matches. Like Vidmanova in the NCAA singles draw, Georgia's top duo could be a real threat in the doubles tournament later this month.
On Friday, after the doubles matches on courts two and three split, the doubles point and 1-0 lead heading into singles would be decided at the No. 1 spot. Vidmanova and Mert delivered the clinching win, beating Jessica Alsola and Valentina Ivanov in an epic deciding match, 7-6 (7-5).
Down 6-5 and on serve, Vidmanova produced an easy service game to force a tiebreaker. Down 0-2 early, Vidmanova flashed some very quick hands on volleys on shots hit right at her at the net, drawing even. A couple of big Mert shots put Georgia ahead, and soon after, the Bulldogs had the win and lead entering singles.
Vidmanova wasted little time or effort in her 6-2, 6-3 takedown of the No. 43-ranked Ivanov at No. 1 singles. Her big serve got her a lot of easy points, and her powerful groundstrokes either moved Ivanov off the baseline or pushed her off to the side. Vidmanova's win put Georgia ahead 2-0, and the Bulldogs also got victories from Guillermina Grant at No. 5 and Reasco at No. 3 to clinch the victory.
"I think that's the one that really set the tone after a tight doubles point," Bernstein said of Vidmanova's win.
As for Vidmanova, she knows that while the recent results have been excellent, there is always room for improvement, and the matches and opponents are only going to get more difficult
"There are always things that I can work on and try to improve, but I think I'm playing really well," Vidmanova said. "I know there are things I want to work on in practice and hopefully do even better in Stillwater."
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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