Shirokova Wins Consolation Draw at Regionals
By Alex Schwartz
Sunday Results | Saturday Recap | Friday Recap | Fall Stats
ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Miami women’s tennis team wrapped up play Sunday the ITA Southeast Regional Championships Presented by Oracle.
Freshman Ulyana Shirokova, in just her third collegiate tournament, posted a pair of victories to finish 5-1 over three days at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex and win the second round consolation draw title.
“Uly did a great job recognizing her strengths and weaknesses this weekend,” Miami associate head coach Laura Vallverdu said. “She needs to continue to get stronger, mentally and physically, so that she can connect better wins and start playing to her potential. Very happy for her.”
Shirokova opened the day by edging USF’s Ana Roman Dominguez, 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4), in the draw’s semifinals. It marked her second consecutive win over a player coming off a victory against one of her fellow Hurricanes.
In the draw finale, Shirokova lost fewer games than she has in any of the first 11 matches of her young career. The Ufa, Russia, native cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 triumph over Maryna Veksler of FIU to win the draw and move to 7-4 on the season.
Meanwhile, No. 11 Estela Perez-Somarriba, the top-seeded player in the tournament, took on No. 93 Brooke Austin of Florida, seeded fifth, in the main draw quarterfinals in her first match of the day.
The Miami sophomore topped the 2016 SEC Player of the Year in comeback fashion, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, to make it three straight years with a Hurricane in the regional semifinals.
There, she faced seventh-seeded Katarina Jokic of Georgia in a de facto road match. Down a set and 4-5, Perez-Somarriba staved off four consecutive match points, before eventually falling, 5-7, 5-7.
“Estela is such a fighter, [as she showed] one more time,” Vallverdu said. “Even though she had a hard time regrouping and dealing with a little adversity in her match today, she gets out of the tournament feeling better about where her head and focuses are. It was a good tournament overall.”
Miami’s five representatives in Athens combined to go 13-9 over three days of play, including 12-8 in singles competition.
To keep up with the University of Miami women’s tennis team on social media, follow @CanesWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
SUNDAY RESULTS
Singles Competition – Main Draw Quarterfinals
No. 11 [1] Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM) def. No. 93 [5] Brooke Austin (UF), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Singles Competition – Main Draw Semifinals
[7] Katarina Jokic (GA) def. No. 11 [1] Estela Perez-Somarriba (UM), 7-5, 7-5
Singles Competition – Second Round Consolation Semifinals
Ulyana Shirokova (UM) def. Ana Roman Dominguez (USF), 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4)
Singles Competition – Second Round Consolation Final
Ulyana Shirokova (UM) def. Maryna Veksler (FIU), 6-3, 6-0
