Tuscaloosa, Ala. – The Clemson women’s tennis squad is off to a hot start following day one of action at Roberta Alison, posting a perfect 3-0 record in doubles while going 8-2 in singles.
Mackenzy Middlebrooks, Eleni Louka and Ali DeSpain each went 2-0 in singles to advance to the final round of their respective brackets. In her first singles match of the day, Middlebrooks fell behind early against Martea Mihaljevic of Troy but persevered to take the match 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. The senior earned the victory in her second match against Wisconsin’s Cristiana Tudor in straight sets. Freshmen Louka and DeSpain both took their matches in straight sets as well. Louka defeated Memphis’ Alisha Reayer and Mississippi State’s Marta Falceto and DeSpain took down Maryland’s Eva Alexandrova and Alabama’s Ann Selim.
Additionally, Laura Marti and Zaina Nair Omar both went 1-1 on the day. Marti opened singles play with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 win over Daphne Pratt of UT Martin. However, Marti fell to Memphis’ Lina Hohnhold. After dropping her first-round matchup with Melissa Pick of Wisconsin, Nait Omar notched a 6-4, 6-3 win over Victoire de Samucequcz of Ole Miss.
In doubles, Louka/Middlebrooks defeated Indiana’s Bernard/McKamey, 7-5. DeSpain/Marti and Nait Omar, who was paired with Wisonsin’s Cristiana Tudor, claimed 6-1 victories over their opponents.
Competition from Tuscaloosa continues tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. central time.
Doubles
Louka/Middlebrooks def. Bernard/McKamey (Indiana) – 7-5
DeSpain/Marti def. de Samucewicz/Jones (Ole Miss) – 6-1
Nait Omar(Clemson)/Tudor (Wisconsin) def. Hecking/Whitthaus Vine (UAB) – 6-1
Singles
Eleni Louka def. Alisha Reayer (Memphis) 6-3, 6-4
Ali DeSpain def. Eva Alexandrova (Maryland) – 6-3, 6-4
Mackenzy Middlebrooks def. Martea Mihaljevic (Troy) – 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Laura Marti def. Daphne Pratt (UT Martin) – 6-1, 6-0
Melissa Pick (Wisconsin) def. Zaina Nait Omar – 6-4, 6-2
Eleni Louka def. Marta Falceto (Mississippi State) – 6-3, 6-4
Ali DeSpain def. Ann Selim (Alabama) – 6-3, 6-3
Mackenzy Middlebrooks def. Cristiana Tudor (Wisconsin) – 6-3, 6-4
Lina Hohnhold (Memphis) def. Laura Marti – 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
Zaina Nait Omar def. Victoire de Samucequcz (Ole Miss) – 6-4, 6-3
10 am Louka/Middlebrooks vs. Strend/Ogut (Northwestern)
10 am DeSpain/Marti vs. Aziz/Alvarez (Iowa State)
10 am Nait Omar(Clemson)/Tudor (Wisconsin) vs. Carvajal/Elizarraras (East Tennessee State)
1:30 pm Eleni Louka vs, Raquel Amaro (East Tennessee State)
1:30 pm Ali DeSpain vs. Vanessa Streng (Northwestern)
1:30 pm Mackenzy Middlebrooks vs. Alex Staiculescu (Indiana)
1:30 pm Laura Marti vs. Sara Lizariturry (Mississippi State)
1:30 pm Zaina Nair Omar vs. Annabelle Andrinopoulous (Indiana)
