CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Four Clemson Tigers, Candela Yecora, Romana Cisovska, Ria Bhakta and Amelie Smejkalova, wrapped up their run at ITA Sectionals this weekend from Nov. 6-9 at the University of North Carolina.
Ria Bhakta shined for the Tigers advancing all the way to the playoff semifinals. Bhakta defeated Eleana Yu of Duke 6-3, 6-0 to earn a spot in the NCAA Individual Championships which will take place in Orlando, Fla. from Nov. 18-23. Bhakta started the weekend off with a 6-1, 6-3 win over North Carolina’s Alana Boyce to advance to the round of 16. She advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Katie Rolls of Virginia. Bhakta fell to Gabriella Broadfoot 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals to move to the playoff seminfinals where she took a 6-3, 6-0 win over Elana Yu of Duke. Bhakta now owns six total wins in ITA tournaments this fall.
Bhakta is the first Tiger to qualify for the NCAA Individual Championships since Marie Leduc competed in 2018.
Next up, the Tigers head to Orlando, Fla. to compete in the NCAA Individual Championships from Nov. 18-23. Follow @Clemsonwtennis on X, Instagram, and Facebook for the most up-to-date information.
Thursday
Singles:
R32 | Amelie Smejkalova (CU) def. Alexandra Orlins (Darmouth), 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
R32 |Ria Bhakta (CU) def. Alana Boyce (UNC), 6-1, 6-3
Doubles:
R16 |Ema Kovacevic & Emma Ghirardato (Marlyland) def. Candela Yecora & Romana Cisovska (CU), 6-3, 6-0
Friday
R16 |Lavinia Tanasie (NC State) def. Amelie Smejkalova (CU), 6-4, 7-5
R16 |Ria Bhakta (CU) def. Katie Rolls (Virginia), 6-4, 6-2
CQFQ | Katie Rolls & Blair Gill (Virginia) walks over Candela Yecora & Romana Cisovska (CU) by injury
Saturday
RQF |Gabriella Broadfoot (NC State) def. Ria Bhakta (CU), 6-4, 6-1
Sunday
RPL-SF |Ria Bhakta (CU) def. Eleana Yu (Duke), 6-3, 6-0
