Top-Tier Victory for Georgia Women’s Tennis
The No. 2 ranked Georgia women’s tennis team secured another impressive win against No. 6 Auburn, triumphing 5-2 in a highly competitive match at home on Friday. This marks the second face-off this month between the two teams, with Georgia previously besting Auburn in the 2025 ITA National Team Indoor Championship quarterfinals.
Strong Start in Doubles
The No. 25 doubles team of Dasha Vidmanova and Mell Reasco achieved a swift 6-0 victory over No. 20 DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar on court one. Following this, Georgia clinched the doubles point with a commendable performance from No. 81 Aysegul Mert and Hayden Mulberry, who secured a 6-3 win against Maria Garcia and Ava Esposito on court three.
Meanwhile, on court two, No. 65 Anastasiia Lopata and Guillermina Grant were in a tough match, trailing 5-3 against No. 69 Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat, but their fight was commendable.
Dominance in Singles
In singles action, junior Sofia Rojas showcased her skills by overpowering Alice Battesti with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory on court six, maintaining her undefeated record in dual match play at 8-0.
On court five, No. 66 Guillermina Grant continued her winning streak by defeating No. 116 Ava Esposito 6-4 and then dominating the second set 6-1, contributing another crucial point for Georgia. Meanwhile, at court one, top-ranked Vidmanova overcame second-ranked Bennett with a solid performance, winning 6-3, 6-2, and pushing Georgia’s lead to 4-0.
A Tenacious Finish
No. 56 Aysegul Mert demonstrated resilience by fighting back from a 5-1 deficit against No. 17 Merna Refaat, eventually winning the first set 7-6 (7-3) and then completing her victory with a 6-4 win on court four.
On court three, Reasco experienced a rollercoaster match against No. 57 Okutoyi. After taking the first set 6-3, she fell in the second set, 7-6 (7-4), and in the super tiebreaker, Okutoyi secured Auburn’s first point with a 1-0 (10-5) victory.
Similarly on court two, No. 39 Lopata faced Hrastar in a super tiebreaker, ultimately succumbing 1-0 (10-6). Despite winning the second set 6-3 after dropping the first 7-6 (7-5), Lopata couldn’t clinch the match, granting Hrastar the point for Auburn.
Continuing the Streak
With this victory, Georgia has now triumphed in their last 17 home matches against SEC opponents. The Bulldogs are set to carry their momentum into their next challenge against No. 40 Florida this Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
