Tallahassee, Fla. – The Clemson women’s tennis squad is off to a hot start following day one of action at the Seminole Showdown.
All Tigers that competed in singles picked up victories to open the tournament. Senior Sydney Riley and freshman Ali DeSpain each notched wins in straight sets over South Florida’s Selin Yaylali (6-4, 6-0) and McNeese State’s Marija Mastilovic (6-2, 6-1), respectively. Additionally, Mackenzy Middlebrooks and Laura Marti managed come-from-behind wins in the lone round of action. Freshmen Eleni Louka and Zaina Nait Omar did not compete in singles on day one and will begin competition on Saturday morning.
In doubles, Middlebrooks/Riley grabbed a 6-1 win over Markarova/Zordani of Wisconsin in the opening round. However, the pair dropped out of contention in the second round after falling to Cruz/Martinez Asensi of South Carolina. Despite defeats in the first round of doubles, DeSpain/Louka and Marti/Nait Omar each tallied wins in the second round of action.
Tournament action continues from Tallahassee on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. EST.
Doubles
Middlebrooks/Riley def. Markarova/Zordani (Wisconsin) – 6-1
Chen/Song (Auburn) def. DeSpain/Louka – 7-5
Gupta Mauro def. Marti/Nait Omar – 6-2
Cruz/Martinez Asensi (South Carolina) def. Middlebrooks/Riley – 6-2
DeSpain/Louka def. Chang/Timakova (Iowa State) – 6-2
Marti/Nait Omar def. Blinouskaya/Mulatero – 6-2
Singles
Mackenzy Middlebrooks def. Maryann Rompf (Furman) – 1-6, 6-1 10/4
Laura Marti def. Ebru Yazgan (Southern Mississippi) – 3-6, 6-4. 10/7
Sydney Riley def. Selin Yaylali (South Florida) – 6-4, 6-0
Ali DeSpain def. Marija Mastilovic (McNeese State) – 6-2, 6-1
10:15 am Middlebrooks/Riley vs. Boy/Pellicer Perello (South Florida)
10:15 am DeSpain/Louka vs. Gorches/Nash (North Florida)
TBD Nait Omar/Marti vs. TBD
9:00 am Zaina Nait Omar vs. Dalia Ahmed (McNeese State)
9:00 am Eleni Louka vs. Maty Cancini (Iowa State)
11:30 am Sydney Riley vs. Thea Rice (Arkansas)
11:30 am Ali DeSpain vs. Gabriella Martinez Asensi (South Carolina)
11:30 am Mackenzy Middlebrooks vs. Ana Luiza Cruz (South Carolina)
TBD Laura Marti vs. Maria Fernanda Carvajal (East Tennessee State)
