#14 Tigers Defeat Eagles 6-1 in Opening Round of ITA Kickoff Weekend

CLEMSON, S.C. – The 14^th-ranked Clemson women’s tennis team defeated Winthrop 6-1 in Saturday’s opening round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend held at the Clemson Indoor Tennis Center. With the win, Clemson advances to Sunday’s 1 p.m. championship match, and moves to 1-0, while  Winthrop falls to 0-2.

The Tigers won the doubles point thanks to 6-1 wins by second-ranked Jessy Rompies and Beatrice Gumulya and Romy Koelzer and Tristen Dewar, playing at number one and number two doubles, respectively. Clemson’s Daniela Ruiz and Yuilynn Miao, playing at number three doubles, were trailing 4-3 to Humberg and Aguado when Koelzer and Dewar clinched the doubles point.

In singles action, the Tigers claimed wins at flights 1-5, including a win by Romy Koelzer, ranked 85^th in the nation. Tristan Dewar got the winning started with a 6-2, 6-1 decision at flight three, followed by Jessy Rompies winning 6-3, 6-2 at flight four.  Beatrice Gumulya was up 7-6, 4-4 at flight two when her Winthrop opponent retired due to injury, clinching the win for the Tigers. Freshman Daniela Ruiz climbed back to win 4-6, 6-4, 10-7 at flight five.

The Tigers will play #40 Purdue in the championship match Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Clemson Indoor Tennis Center with a berth in the ITA Team Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va. on Feb. 5-8 on the line. #42 Washington will play Winthrop at 9 a.m. in the consolation match.

#14 Clemson 6, Winthrop 1

Singles1. #85 Romy Koelzer (CU) def. Alice Garcia (WU) 7-6, 4-6, 6-22. Beatrice Gumulya (CU) def. Caitlin Cridland (WU) 7-6, 4-4, ret.3. Tristen Dewar (CU) def. Tijana Uzelac (WU) 6-2, 6-14. Jessy Rompies (CU) def. Ekin Gunaysu (WU) 6-3, 6-25. Daniela Ruiz (CU) def. Mariana Humberg (WU) 4-6, 6-4, 10-76. Monica Aguado (WU) def. Carola Pederazani  (CU) 6-4, 6-3Order of Finish 3, 4, 2, 1, 5, 6 

Doubles1. #2 Beatrice Gumulya/Jessy Rompies (Clemson) def. Alice Garcia/ Tijana Uzelac 6-12. Romy Koelzer/ Tristen Dewar (Clemson) def. Caitlin Cridland/ Ekin Gunaysu 6-13. Mariana Humberg/ Monica Aguado vs. Daniela Ruiz/ Yuilynn Miao (Clemson) 4-3 (unfinished)Order of Finish: 1, 2