Biria Advances to Individual Quarterfinals; Zou Claims All-America Honors

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The University of Chicago women's tennis team had a pair of individuals claim All-America honors on the opening day of the Individual National Championships on Friday.

Sarena Biria entered the draw as the #2 ranked player in the draw, but she found a tough matchup in the opening round against Rebecca Kong, the #4 ranked player from Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Biria came into the match with an 0-3 record against Kong in her career, and she struggled early, dropping the opening set 6-0. In the second set, neither player was able to hold serve in the first three games as Biria fell behind 3-1, but the Kansas City, Kansas native picked up three flips with a pair of holds and a break to take her first lead of the match at 4-3. After a pair of holds each way, Kong had a chance to level the set at 5-5, but Biria was able to break her serve, winning the second set 6-4. In the third set, Biria carried over the mometum with a hold, and she broke serve on deuce point in the second game to blow the match open. From there on, Biria won 13 of the next 14 points, taking a 5-0 lead in the set, and after a hold at 5-1, Biria held serve to seal the match with an 0-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory.

In her second match of the day, Biria battled Genevra Muratori from Skidmore College. After a trio of holds, Muratori drew first blood with a break on deuce point to take a 4-1 lead. Despite the early break, Biria did not blink as she hold and broke back to level the score at 4-4. Then, she added her second break of the set to win five consecutive games, closing out the set 6-4. In the second set, Biria continued to roll with a break in the opening game, and she held for a 2-0 lead, winning seven straight games. After a hold and break back by Muratori, Biria won the final four games of the match with two more breaks of serve to seal her spot in the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.

Clara Zou also faced a tough match in the opening round of the tournament as she had to face the #3 player in the country and NESCAC Player of the Year, Tina She from Amherst. Zou took control early in the match as she challenged She by keeping her off tempo, earning two breaks in the first three service games of the match for a 4-1 lead. She was able to fight back with a break at 4-1, but after a hold by Zou at 4-3, she was able to pick up her third service break of the set on a crucial deuce point to win the set 6-3. In the second set, neither player was able to hold serve as the players traded breaks of serve for five consecutive games. She held serve at 4-3 for the first time in five games, but Zou had multiple chances to level the set at 5-5. After holding her own serve on a deuce point, saving a pair of set points, she had two break points at 4-5, but She held on for the 6-4 second set win. In the deciding set, Zou held game-love in the opening game, and she picked up a big break at 1-0 to set the tone. Clara was then able to hold at 2-0 and win a big deuce point for a hold at 4-1. Despite the early lead, She battled back, winning back-to-back games on deuce point to level the score at 4-4. Zou then held to take the lead, and she broke serve for the seventh time in the match, sealing the 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory.

In the second round match, Zou faced a rematch from her Team Quarterfinal match on Monday against the #10 ranked player from Babson, Alessandra Sikharulidze. Sikharulidze jumped out of the gates with a pair of easy wins, winning the first eight points of the match, and she won the next two games on deciding deuce points for a quick 4-0 lead. After a hold on deuce for Zou, Sikharulidze held and broke for a 6-1 opening set. In the second set, Zou and Sikharulidze could not hold serve as there were eight breaks of serve in the first eight games of the set. At 4-4, Sikharulidze recorded the first service hold of the set, and she was able to break for a fifth time in the match to take down Zou 6-1, 6-4.

With both Biria and Zou winning their opening round matches, both players have locked up ITA All-America honors in singles this season.

With the wins, Biria advances to the Individual Quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon where she will match up with Lauren Rha, the #16 ranked player from Pomona-Pitzer.