Clemson Women’s Tennis Set for Play at ITA/Riviera All-American Championships

Oct. 2, 2009

Prequalifying Singles Bracket – Prequalifying Doubles Bracket – Tournament Home Page

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – Clemson women’s tennis is prepared to begin play in the nation’s premier collegiate tennis tournament, the ITA/Riviera All-American Championships. The tournament takes place from Oct. 3-11, with prequalifying rounds played at UCLA, qualifying rounds at the Rivera Tennis Club, and the main draw, also played at Riviera.

The Tigers will have several entrants in the tournament, with three Tigers beginning with prequalifying play on Saturday. 99th-ranked Ina Hadziselimovic will play Florida’s Allie Will on Saturday at 12:30 pm, Laurianne Henry will play Alexa Guarachi of Alabama at 11:00 am, and Estefania Balda will play Stephanie Hammel of UC-Irvine at 9:30 am.

Balda and Henry will also team up to play Budiharto and Dalmacio of Wichita State on Saturday at 8:00 am in prequalifying doubles draw.

Players in prequalifying singles are attempting to win three matches in order to earn a bid in the qualifying tournament of 64 players (which already includes 56 players with automatic bids, based on rank). Players in the qualifying tournament will then need to win three matches in order to advance to the main draw. The main draw has 32 entrants, which include the top players plus automatic bids, and eight from the qualifying tournament. Sophomore Josipa Bek has already earned a spot in the main draw by virtue of her #9 national ranking.

The doubles format is similar, except that there are only 32 doubles teams in the prequalifying round and qualifying round, and only 16 in the main draw. Again, in order to advance, teams must win three matches.

Play will continue throughout the week in singles and doubles. ClemsonTigers.com will have recaps and results of all Clemson action.