Wagner Advances to Semis at National Indoors
FLUSHING, N.Y. – University of Miami junior Stephanie Wagner advanced to the semifinals of the Singles Main Draw at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships. She picked up a pair of victories Friday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including one over the ITA’s No. 7-ranked singles player.
“Stephanie is discovering, through a lot of fight, some new things about her tennis that will help her reach the next step,” UM assistant coach Laura Vallverdu said. “She is seeing her mind as an asset before her tennis, which is what high-level athletics is about.”
Wagner, ranked No. 18, started her day Friday with an impressive showing against Chanelle Van Nguyen of UCLA. Wagner took match in straight sets over Van Nguyen, ranked seventh and the No. 2 seed in the draw. The Amberg, Germany native won 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Wagner then played her next Singles Main Draw match in the afternoon and put forth another stellar effort, taking down California’s Lynn Chi, the ranked eighth, in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Between her two singles wins Friday against a pair of opponents in the top 10 of the ITA rankings, Wagner lost a total of just eight games.
Wagner will face another Golden Bear next, as the fifth seed, No. 43 Maegan Manasse of California, will be her semifinal opponent. The pair will square off Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Upon completing her two singles matches, Wagner also played in the Doubles Main Draw with Lina Lileikite Friday night. Wagner and her senior teammate faced the No. 2 seeded duo of Pleun Burgmans and Emily Flickinger in the quarterfinals and competed hard, but fell just short to the sixth-ranked pair from Auburn.
After nearly taking the opening set against the sixth-ranked doubles duo, Wagner and Lileikite went on to drop the match 7-6 (4), 6-2.
“Doubles today was and clean from the Auburn team,” Vallverdu said. “Stephanie and Lina played hard, but fell short in a couple of areas of the game. They are moving forward and to new places as a doubles team though.”
Live score updates from Friday’s play will be available at the official ITA event page.
The USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships serves as the culmination of the fall college tennis season. The event features a 32-player singles draw and a 20-team doubles draw for both men and women. Twenty schools are represented in the women’s singles draw.
Stay up to date with the action this week at @ITAtennis and follow the hashtag #NationalIndoors on Twitter. Also, follow @HurricaneTennis for the latest news and notes from the Miami women’s tennis team.
FRIDAY RESULTS
Singles Main Draw—Round of 16
No. 18 Stephanie Wagner def. No. 7 [2] Chanelle Van Nguyen (UCLA), 6-2, 6-4
Singles Main Draw—Quarterfinals
No. 18 Stephanie Wagner def. No. 8 Lynn Chi (California), 6-1, 6-3
Doubles Main Draw—Quarterfinals
No. 6 [2] Burgmans/Flickinger (Auburn) def. Lileikite/Wagner, 7-6 (4), 6-2
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
Singles Main Draw—Semifinals
No. 18 Stephanie Wagner vs. No. 43 [5] Maegan Manasse (California) at 10:30 a.m.
Photo courtesy of Manuela Davies.
