The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Ratkic Wins TCU ITA/UTR Women's Summer Circuit, Smith Azusa Pacific Runner-Up
7/18/2022 4:30:00 PM | Women's Tennis
BIRMINGHAM – UAB sophomore Enya Ratkic won the TCU ITA/UTR Women's Summer Circuit and junior Annalisa Smith was the runner-up at the Azusa Pacific Summer Circuit this past weekend.
Ratkic, who was seeded No. 2 in the 29-player event, received a bye into the Round of 16 where she defeated Katia Robinson 6-2, 6-0. In the quarterfinal round, Ratkic was a 4-6, 6-0, 10-6 winner over Bucknell's Abby Platt.
Up next was the semifinal round against Gonzaga's Caroline Wernli. Ratkic won a hard-fought battle 7-5, 7-5. In the finals, Ratkic went up against No. 1 seed Sarah Youngberg of Wesleyan. Youngberg did not lose a set prior to facing Ratkic, who was a straight set winner 6-2, 6-3.
Smith was the No. 5 seed and defeated Pacific's Olivia Wiese in the Round of 32 6-0, 6-0. In the Round of 16, Smith was a 6-2, 6-0 winner over Sanjana Kumar. Smith was pitted against Yuliia Zhytelna from Cal State Northridge in the quarterfinal round, where she won 6-4, 6-4.
In the semifinals, Smith battled back to win 3-6, 6-1, 10-8 over Dongke Liu. The final round saw Smith against the No. 1 seed Baylor's Alina Shcherbinina, who was the 2022 Big 12 Court Four Champion and a member of the Big 12 All-Freshman team. Additionally, Shcherbinina had an ITF junior ranking of No. 29 in April of 2021 and had a No. 1 ranking in junior doubles in Russia. Shcherbinina got the early edge in the first set winning 7-6 (4). Smith came back with a 6-2 win in the second set. However, Shcherbinina got the upper hand in the tiebreaker 10-1.
"It was a good weekend for Enya and Annalisa. They battled the heat and quality opponents to survive to the finals in their matches," said UAB head coach Mark Tjia.
"I believe that one of the major differences between good programs and great programs is whether or not the players invest their own time and money to continue to improve in the off season. I'm proud of these players for their efforts and know it will pay off for the Blazers," added Tjia.
For more information about the UAB women's tennis team, follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ratkic, who was seeded No. 2 in the 29-player event, received a bye into the Round of 16 where she defeated Katia Robinson 6-2, 6-0. In the quarterfinal round, Ratkic was a 4-6, 6-0, 10-6 winner over Bucknell's Abby Platt.
Up next was the semifinal round against Gonzaga's Caroline Wernli. Ratkic won a hard-fought battle 7-5, 7-5. In the finals, Ratkic went up against No. 1 seed Sarah Youngberg of Wesleyan. Youngberg did not lose a set prior to facing Ratkic, who was a straight set winner 6-2, 6-3.
Smith was the No. 5 seed and defeated Pacific's Olivia Wiese in the Round of 32 6-0, 6-0. In the Round of 16, Smith was a 6-2, 6-0 winner over Sanjana Kumar. Smith was pitted against Yuliia Zhytelna from Cal State Northridge in the quarterfinal round, where she won 6-4, 6-4.
In the semifinals, Smith battled back to win 3-6, 6-1, 10-8 over Dongke Liu. The final round saw Smith against the No. 1 seed Baylor's Alina Shcherbinina, who was the 2022 Big 12 Court Four Champion and a member of the Big 12 All-Freshman team. Additionally, Shcherbinina had an ITF junior ranking of No. 29 in April of 2021 and had a No. 1 ranking in junior doubles in Russia. Shcherbinina got the early edge in the first set winning 7-6 (4). Smith came back with a 6-2 win in the second set. However, Shcherbinina got the upper hand in the tiebreaker 10-1.
"It was a good weekend for Enya and Annalisa. They battled the heat and quality opponents to survive to the finals in their matches," said UAB head coach Mark Tjia.
"I believe that one of the major differences between good programs and great programs is whether or not the players invest their own time and money to continue to improve in the off season. I'm proud of these players for their efforts and know it will pay off for the Blazers," added Tjia.
For more information about the UAB women's tennis team, follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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