Wildcats Finish Strong in Fall Tennis

LEXINGTON, Ky.– The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team has finished its fall season after competing in Nashville and Baton Rouge. Now, they’re focused on using what they learned to prepare for the spring team season.

Senior Zoe Hammond and junior Julia Zhu both competed for a spot in the NCAA Championship at the ITA South Sectional Championships in Baton Rouge,but they just missed qualifying. It was a tough draw against some of the best players in the region.

Both Hammond and Zhu lost their first matches. Zhu fell to Auburn’s Alice Battesti 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, and Hammond lost to Georgia’s Sofia Rojas 6-3, 6-4.They didn’t give up, though.

Dropping into the consolation bracket, both players bounced back with wins in the round of 16. Zhu defeated Aely Arai of Miami (Florida) 6-4, 6-2, and Hammond beat Vanesa Suarez of Tennessee 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. they showed real grit and determination.

Sadly, Zhu had to retire with an injury after losing the first set of her consolation quarterfinal match.Hammond,though,kept going,earning a 6-3,6-4 victory over Kenna Erickson. That was her second win of the weekend.

Hammond’s run ended in the consolation semifinals with a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Florida’s Valery Gynina, bringing the Wildcats’ time at ITA Sectionals to a close. It wasn’t the result they wanted, but they gained valuable experience.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Kentucky team competed at the June Stewart Vanderbilt Invitational. Details from that tournament weren’t immediately available, but it provided another possibility for players to compete and improve.