Arakawa’s Statement Win Highlights Day 2
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Among many highlights for the Arkansas women’s tennis team Friday at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Regional Championships on Kansas University’s campus, sophomore Natsuho Arakawa earned a statement victory in the singles round of 32 over the tournament’s No. 4 seeded player.
Arakawa cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win in the round of 64 before taking down Tulsa’s Ksenia Laskutova, who is ranked No. 72 nationally, 7-5, 6-4, to become one of three Razorback singles players to advance to Saturday’s round of 16.
Arkansas also shined in doubles, advancing three of its squads to the quarterfinals.
“We saw so many great competitive efforts out here today,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “It was one of our best ever Regional Day 2’s. The key now is to build on it tomorrow.”
Other Razorbacks to advance to the singles round of 16 include No. 1 seed and No. 36 ranked Ana Oparenovic and No. 7 seed and No. 62 ranked Leolia Jeanjean.
Oparenovic opened her day winning 6-0, 6-1. After surrendering the first set later in the round of 32, she rallied to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. Jeanjean was dominant with a 6-0, 6-0 win in the round of 64 and a 6-0, 6-2 victory in the round of 32.
Carr and Rice each scored victories in singles round of 64 matches but surrendered losses in the round of 32. Agne Cepelyte won both of her matches in consolation singles action.
In doubles, Tatum Rice and Jackie Carr earned an 8-2 victory over No. 9 seed Carolina Costamagna and Maria Linares of Kansas State. No. 1 seed Leolia Jeanjean/Giulia Pairone and No. 7 seed Mia Jurasic/Ana Oparenovic were the other duos who picked up commanding 8-4 and 8-3 wins, respectively, to advance.
Through two days of competition, the Hogs have won 23 of their 28 matches.
Arkansas will return to action for Day 3 on Saturday.
Round of 32 Doubles Results
No. 1 Jeanjean/Pairone (Arkansas) def. Hsu/Saidhujaeva (Wichita State), 8-4
No. 7 Jurasic/Oparenovic (Arkansas) def. Okalova/Ploner (Tulsa), 8-3
No. 4 Oliveira/Ismail (Missouri) def. Arakawa/Cepelyte (Arkansas), 8-6
Rice/Carr (Arkansas) def. No. 9 Costamagna/Linares (Kansas State), 8-2
Round of 64 Singles Results
No. 1 Ana Oparenovic (Arkansas) def. Michaela Henne (Creighton), 6-0, 6-1
No. 3 Leolia Jeanjean (Arkansas) def. Marta Oliveira (Missouri), 6-0, 6-0
Aliona Ladutska (UMKC) def. Mia Jurasic (Arkansas), 6-4, 6-4
Jackie Carr (Arkansas) def. No. 15 Claire Reifes (Nebraska), 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
Natsuho Arakawa (Arkansas) def. Jana Lazarevic (South Dakota), 6-0, 6-0
Tatum Rice (Arkansas) def. Isa Sullivan (North Dakota), 6-0, 6-1
Round of 32 Singles Results
No. 1 Ana Oparenovic (Arkansas) def. Anna Turco (Kansas State), 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 Leolia Jeanjean (Arkansas) def. Yufei Long (Iowa), 6-0, 6-2
Martina Okalova (Tulsa) def. Jackie Carr (Arkansas), 6-2, 6-0
Natsuho Arakawa (Arkansas) def. No. 4 Ksenia Laskutova (Tulsa), 7-5, 6-4
No. 6 Zoe Douglas (Iowa) def. Tatum Rice (Arkansas), 6-1, 6-2
Consolation Singles Results
Agne Cepelyte (Arkansas) def. Alexa Brandt (Bradley), 6-1, 6-4
Agne Cepelyte (Arkansas) def. Simran Sethi (Oklahoma), 7-5, 6-2
Zoe Douglas (Iowa) def. Tatum Rice (Arkansas), 6-1, 6-2
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